Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports:

At 0010 UTC on April 14, the Australian Space Forecast Centre issued

This Solar Dynamics Observatory Image was taken on April 14, 2022. [Photo courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI]

a Geomagnetic Disturbance Warning that stated, “Increased geomagnetic activity expected due to coronal mass ejection from April 14 – 15 2022.”

Sunspot numbers and solar flux declined this reporting week (April 7 -13), although solar activity was not really down, Instead, there were solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) every day, causing disruptions to HF radio communication.

There was a new sunspot appearance on April 7, and another on each day from April 11 – 13. Yet, average daily sunspot numbers declined from 94.6 to 34.4, and average daily solar flux dropped from 135.3 to 103.1.

Average daily planetary A index increased from 14.4 to 15.9. Average middle latitude A index, measured at a single magnetometer in Virginia, went from 10.9 last week to 12.6 this week.

The latest solar flux prediction from the US Air Force Space Weather Squadron, via he National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows modest activity for the next month at 100, 103, 105, and 106 on April 14 – 17; 105 on April 18 – 19; 108 and 106 on April 20 – 21; 110 on April 22 – 23; 115 on April 24; 118 on April 25 – 28; 116 on April 29 through May 6; 112 and 98 on May 7- 8; 95 on May 9 – 11; 98 and 102 on May 12 – 13, and 106 on May 14 – 18.

Predicted planetary A index is 35, 20, 12, 8, and 5 on April 14 – 18; 10, 8, 10, 5, 15, 10, and 8 on April 19 – 25; 5 on April 26 – 28; 18, 12, and 8 on April 29 through May 1; 5 on May 2 – 5; 8, 15, and 12 on May 6 – 8; 5 on May 9 – 11; 12 and 8 on May 12 – 13; 5 on May 14 – 16, and 10 on May 17 – 18.

Sunspot numbers for April 7 – 13 were 52, 55, 37, 13, 24, 23, and 37, with a mean of 34.4. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 111.1, 108.9, 107.1, 101.1, 98.7, 96.2, and 98.7, with a mean of 103.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 15, 9, 19, 34, 13, 12, and 9, with a mean of 15.9. Middle latitude A index was 12, 9, 17, 18, 13, 10, and 9, with a mean of 12.6.

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports:

New sunspot groups appeared on March 31, April 1, April 2, April 3, and April 5. This Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) image was taken on April 7, 2022. [NASA SDO/HMI photo]

A lot of solar activity livened up HF conditions over the past reporting week, March 31 to April 6. Average daily sunspot number rose from 90.1 to 94.6, and daily solar flux from 132.7 to 135.3.

A new sunspot group appeared on March 31, two more on April 1, another on April 2, one more on April 3, and another on April 5.

Predicted solar flux is 116, 115, 118, 112, and 110 on April 7 – 11, 108 on April 12 – 14, 120 on April 15 – 17, 125 on April 18 – 19, 130 on April 20 – 23, 140 on April 24 – 28, 135 on April 29 – 30, 130 on May 1, 120 on May 2 – 3, 125 on May 4 – 5, 120 on May 6, 115 on May 7 – 8, and 110 on May 8 – 9.

Predicted planetary A index is 25, 12, 15, 10, and 8 on April 7 – 11; 5 on April 12 – 19; 10 on April 29 – 21; 5, 15, 10, and 8 on April 22 – 25; 5 on April 26 – 28; 18, 12, 10, and 8 on April 29 through May 2; 5 on May 3 – 7, and 12 and 10 on May 8 – 9.

Sunspot numbers for March 31 through April 6, 2022 were 84, 109, 118, 129, 86, 75, and 61, with a mean of 94.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 149, 3, 146.6, 143.3, 140.2, 128, 122.4, and 117, with a mean of 135.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 27, 17, 22, 10, 11, 6, and 8, with a mean of 14.4. Middle latitude A index was 18, 12, 19, 7, 8, 6, and 6, with a mean of 10.9.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service, read “What the Numbers Mean…,” and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

On May 1.2022 the Sunday night informational net will come to an end for the late Spring, Summer and early Fall months. Continue to watch this site for any updates to the repeater system. Hope you all have a great and enjoyable summer months and will see you again next Fall.

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports:

Many solar flares and CMEs occurred over the reporting week (March 24 – 30) but with glancing blows and near misses it wasn’t reflected in the geomagnetic indicators. The Planetary A index reached a high for the week of 19 on March 27. Average daily planetary A index rose by a modest amount from 6.3 to 10.

Average daily sunspot number rose from 33.4 to 80.1, while solar flux went from 99.9 to 132.7.

Predicted solar flux is forecast to be 150 on March 31 and April 1, then 145, 130, 125, 120, and 115 on April 2 – 6, 118 on April 7 – 9, then 115 and 110 on April 10 – 11, 105 on April 12 – 14, 108 on April 15, 105 on April 16 – 19, 110 on April 20 – 21, 115 on April 22, 125 on April 23 – 26, then 123, 118 and 118 on April 27 – 29, and 108 on April 30 through May 2.

On Wednesday, March 30, local news in Seattle was telling viewers that if only we had clear skies, we could see aurora tonight or tomorrow. This is likely with the predicted Planetary A index at 58 and 32 on March 31 and April 1, then 10, 12 and 10 on April 2 – 4, 8 on April 5 – 6, then 5 and quieter conditions on April 7 – 19, 10 on April 20 – 21, then 5, 15, and 10 on April 22 – 24, 5 on April 25 – 29, and 12, and 8 on April 30 and May 1.

We’ve been seeing more activity on 10 meters over the past week. Check it out.

Sunspot numbers for March 24 – 30, 2022, were 44, 50, 48, 97, 125, 124, and 73, with a mean of 80.1. 10.7-centimeter flux was 112, 112, 119, 130, 156, 149, and 151, with a mean of 132.7. Estimated Planetary A indices were 9, 10, 7, 18, 10, 8, and 8, with a mean of 10. Middle latitude A index was 6, 3, 6, 11, 4, 7, and 6, with a mean of 8.1

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service, read “What the Numbers Mean…,” and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

A Public Notice released by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on March 23, 2022, in MD Docket No. 20-270, announced that new application fees for Wireless Telecommunications Bureau applications will become effective on April 19, 2022. The new fees, mandated by Congress, apply to applications for Amateur Radio licenses including those associated with filing Form 605, the Amateur Operator/Primary Station Licensee Application.

Effective April 19, 2022, a $35 fee will apply to applications for a new Amateur Radio license, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call signs.

Anticipating the implementation of the fee in 2022, the ARRL Board of Directors, at its July 2021 meeting, approved the “ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program.” Under the program, ARRL will cover a one-time $35 application fee for license candidates younger than 18 years old for tests administered under the auspices of the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC). Qualified candidates also would pay a reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC. ARRL is finalizing details for administering the program.

ARRL had filed comments in opposition to imposing a fee on Amateur Radio license applications. The FCC initially proposed a higher, $50 fee. In a Report and Order (R&O), released on December 29, 2020, the amount was reduced — the FCC agreeing with ARRL and other commenters that its proposed $50 fee for certain amateur radio applications was “too high to account for the minimal staff involvement in these applications.”

ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, explained that all fees are per application. “There will be no fee for administrative updates, such as a change of mailing or email address. The fees will be the responsibility of the applicant regardless of filing method and must be paid within 10 calendar days of FCC’s receipt of the application. For applications filed by a VEC, the period does not begin until the application is received by the Commission, a ULS file number assigned, and an email sent by the FCC directly to the applicant.”

VECs and Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams will not collect the $35 fee at license exam sessions. New and upgrade candidates at an exam session will continue to pay the $15 exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual, and pay the new, $35 application fee directly to the FCC by using the CORES FRN Registration system (CORES – Login).

When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will email a link with payment instructions to each successful candidate who then will have 10 calendar days from the date of the email to pay. After the fee is paid and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to their official license or explanation of other action. The link will be good for 30 days.

Somma also explained that applications that are processed and dismissed will not be entitled to a refund. This includes vanity call sign requests where the applicant does not receive the requested call sign. “The FCC staff has suggested that applicants for vanity call signs should first ensure the call signs requested are available and eligible for their operator class and area, and then request as many call signs as the form allows to maximize their chances of receiving a call sign.”

Further information and instructions about the FCC Application Fee are available from the ARRL VEC at www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee. Details for the ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program will be similarly posted there, when available.