The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Each of the weekly solar and geomagnetic
indicators that we track were lower this week. The average daily sunspot number
 dropped 10.6 points to 25.1, and the average daily solar flux was 4.5 points
lower than the previous week at 76.9.

We have not witnessed a day with zero sunspots since April 17. The average
planetary and mid-latitude A indices were both 5.6, down from the previous
week, when the numbers were 26.4 and 18.4, respectively.

As of May 3, the predicted solar flux is 75 on May 4-7; 74 on May 8; 75 on May
9-11; 73 on May 12; 75 on May 13-14; 80 on May 15-18; 85 on May 19-21; 80 on
May 22-23; 77 on May 24-27; 75 on May 28-30; 73 on May 31-June 8; 75 on June
9-10; and 80 on June 11-14.

Predicted planetary A index is 12, 8, 8, 5, and 10 on May 4-8; 5 on May 9-14;
8, 15, 30, and 25 on May 15-18; 45, 50, 15, 10, and 8 on May 19-23; 5 on May
24-27; 12 and 8 on May 28-29; 5 on May 30-June 1; 8 on June 2-4; 5 on June
5-10; 8, 15, 30, 25, 45, and 50 on June 11-16.

Bob Kile, W7RH, of Las Vegas, Nevada, took advantage of a 6-meter sporadic-E
opening on May 3, working stations in Texas, Wyoming, Idaho, and Colorado. Two
Wyoming stations were "solid copy for several hours" before the band closed.
(Bob also has a 160-meter remote base in the Northern Arizona desert. More
information is on his website.)

Sunspot numbers for April 27 through May 3, 2017 were 23, 35, 34, 33, 11, 25,
and 15, with a mean of 25.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 78.2, 78, 77, 77.4,
75.3, 77.2, and 74.9, with a mean of 76.9. Estimated planetary A indices were
7, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5, and 4, with a mean of 5.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices
were 10, 6, 6, 6, 5, 4, and 2, with a mean of 5.6.

Send me your reports and observations.

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Just Ahead in Radiosport

 *  May 6 -- Microwave Spring Sprint (Any mode)
 *  May 6 -- FISTS Spring Slow Speed Sprint (CW)
 *  May 6-7 -- New England QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
 *  May 6-7 -- 7th Call Area QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
 *  May 6-7 -- Indiana QSO Party (CW, phone)
 *  May 6-7 -- Delaware QSO Party (CW, phone)
 *  May 6-7 -- 10-10 International Spring Contest (CW)
 *  May 6-7 -- SBMS 2.3 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone, digital)
 *  May 6-7 -- ARI International DX Contest (CW, phone, digital)
 *  May 6-7 -- F9AA Cup (PSK)
 *  May 10 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (Data)
 *  May 11 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)

See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth reporting on
Amateur Radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest Update via your ARRL
member profile e-mail preferences.

____________________________________________________________________________


Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

 *  May 4-6 -- Military Radio Collector's Group Convention, San Luis Obispo,
    California
 *  May 7 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Bristol, Pennsylvania
 *  May 13 -- Iowa Section Convention, Boone, Iowa
 *  May 19-21 -- Ohio State Convention (Dayton Hamvention), Xenia, Ohio
 *  May 27-28 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Cody, Wyoming
 *  June 2-4 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
 *  June 3 -- Georgia Section Convention, Marietta, Georgia
 *  June 4 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,
    Pennsylvania
 *  June 9-10 -- West Gulf Division Convention, Irving, Texas
 *  June 16-18 -- Utah State Convention, Garden City, Utah
 *  June 17 -- Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee
 *  July 14-16 -- Montana State Convention, Essex, Montana
 *  July 21-22 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
 *  July 27-30 -- Central States VHF Society Conference, Albuquerque, New
    Mexico

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

____________________________________________________________________________


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