The K7RA Solar Update 

No sunspots seen since January 6, so average daily sunspot numbers declined from 7.7 to 0 for the current reporting week, January 10-16. Average daily solar flux dropped from 71.6 to 69.4 over the same period. Average daily planetary A index went from 7.4 to 4.9, and average mid-latitude A index went from 6.1 to 4.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 70 on January 18-20, 72 on January 2...

Japanese Ham Receives License to Operate in Myanmar 

Akio Taguchi, JE2QIZ/AC7XZ, reports that he has received a license from the Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) Ministry of Transportation and Communication. His call sign there will be XZ2B. Taguchi explained that Myanmar only permits Amateur Radio operation from 20 MHz to 300 MHz at a power of just 25 W, and he plans to operate a "fishing rod antenna" from his hotel.

Because license fees in Myan...

Court Rules Excessive Antenna Application Fees Violated Reasonable Accommodation 

Long-pending Amateur Radio antenna litigation that ARRL helped to fund has finally borne fruit. The Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department has ruled in the case of Myles Landstein, N2EHG, that the Town of LaGrange, New York, not only overstepped its state-granted authority by assessing excessive fees, but violated the limited federal preemption PR...

AMSAT Announces 50th Anniversary Awards Program 

AMSAT has announced its 50th Anniversary Awards Program, to help celebrate 50 years of keeping Amateur Radio in space. Satellite and HF contacts can help participants to earn one of these awards:

• 50th Anniversary AMSAT OSCAR Satellite Communications Achievement Award
• 50th Anniversary AMSAT Satellite Friends of 50 Award
• AMSAT on HF 50th Anniversary Award

The 50th anniversary AMSAT OSCAR Satellite ...

US Islands Awards Program Announces 25th Anniversary Award, Recent Rule Changes 

The US Islands (USI) Awards Program celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and is offering a commemorative award for both chasers and activators for contacts made between January 1 and December 31.

To qualify, chasers must confirm 25 islands during 2019, as a club or individual, and activators must qualify or activate 25 islands in any combination, making at least 15 contacts for both new isl...