‘Significant’ radio and GPS issues are expected within hours, according to the Met Office.A SOLAR storm is expected to hit Earth in the next 36 hours, causing radio and GPS problems, according to experts.The Met Office and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have both detected a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun that will “graze” the Earth, according to the agencies.A space weather physicist, Dr. Tamitha Skov, has warned that this could result in amateur radio blackouts and GPS problems.

A space weather physicist, Dr. Tamitha Skov, has warned that this could result in amateur radio blackouts and GPS problems. “Our Sun sends a Thanksgiving Holiday gift,” she tweeted.

“A solar storm that began yesterday, according to NOAA and the Met Office, will graze Earth to the south late November 27.“A sporadic aurora is possible at mid-latitudes, but it’s unlikely to be a big storm.” “On Earth’s nightside, expect radio and GPS problems.” “Satellite systems may experience significant charging,” according to NOAA, “resulting in increased risk to satellite systems.”

“First-look data suggest it might deliver a glancing blow to Earth’s magnetic field,” according to SpaceWeather.com. On Wednesday, a filament of magma burst out of a 50,000-mile-long canyon on the Sun, creating towering walls of red-hot plasma.

A coronal mass ejection (CME) formed by debris from the blast, which is a large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s outer layer that can cause a geomagnetic storm.

When a geomagnetic storm collides with the Earth’s atmosphere, it can cause havoc. “A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth’s magnetosphere that occurs when there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding Earth,” according to astronomers at SpaceWeather.com.

“These storms are caused by variations in the solar wind, which cause major changes in the Earth’s magnetosphere’s currents, plasmas, and fields.”

CMEs are the most powerful type of geomagnetic storm, sending a stream of electrical charges and magnetic fields as far as the earth at speeds of up to three million miles per hour.

Even the lowest-intensity G1 storm, which we might see tomorrow, can cause major disruption if it collides with a satellite.

When this happens, satellite operations may be disrupted, and power grid fluctuations may occur.

However, lucky spectators who aren’t accustomed to seeing auroras may be treated to spectacular displays during these geomagnetic storms.

Forecasters predicted this earlier this month.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: New sunspots appeared on November 14 and 16, but solar activity was lower, and geomagnetic activity was lower as well.

Average daily sunspot numbers declined from 36.4 last week to 30.9 in the November 11 – 17 reporting week. Solar flux averages were off as well, dipping to to 80.8 this week compared to 89.1 last week.

Average daily planetary A index declined from 18 to 7, and average middle latitude numbers went from 11.7 to 4.9. Middle latitude A index daily average went all the way down to zero on November 13.

We see no high numbers in the solar flux prediction, which has 78 on November 18 – 20; 80 on November 21 – 24; 83 on November 25; 85 on November 26 – 27; 83 on November 28 – 29; 85 on November 30 – December 2; 82 on December 3 – 11; 79, 80, and 79 on December 12 – 14; 78, 77, 79, and 81 on December 15 – 18; 83 on December 19 – 21, and 85 on December 22 – 24.

Predicted planetary A index is a quiet 5 on November 18 – 20; then 12 and 8 on November 21 – 22; 5 on November 23 – 27; 10, 10, and 8 on November 28 – 30; 5 on December 1 – 12; 12 on December 13 – 14, and back to 5 on December 15 – 24.

Sunspot numbers for November 11 – 17 were 39, 39, 24, 23, 23, 35, and 33, with a mean of 30.9. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 84.5, 82.9, 81, 78.7, 79.3, 80.1, and 79.2, with a mean of 80.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 4, 3, 4, 9, 13, and 12, with a mean of 7. Middle latitude A index was 3, 3, 0, 2, 6, 11, and 9, with a mean of 4.9.

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

Beginning Sunday Nov. 7th the weekly Sunday night informational net will be held. If you are a licensed amateur radio operator please tune in to 145.47 and participate. Discussion will be held as to the current operation of the repeater and other repeater activities. Tune in at 8:00 pm. See you on the net!

Beginning May 20, 2021, all amateur examination applicants will be required to provide an FCC Registration Number (FRN) to the Volunteer Examiners (VEs) before taking an amateur exam. This is necessary due to changes the FCC has made to its licensing system.Amateur candidates who already have an FCC license, whether for amateur radio or in another service, already have an FRN and can use the same number. All prospective new FCC licensees, however, will be required to obtain an FRN before the examination and provide that number to the volunteer examiners on the Form 605 license application. An FCC instructional video provides step-by-step instructions on how to obtain an FRN through the FCC’s COmmission REgistration System (CORES).The FRN is required for all new applicants to take an amateur exam and is used afterward by the applicant to download the license document from the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS), upgrade the license, apply for a vanity call sign, and to submit administrative updates (such as address and email changes) and renewal applications.In addition, after June 29, all applications will be required to contain an email address for FCC correspondence. Applicants will receive an email direct from the FCC with a link to the official electronic copy of their license whenever a license is issued or changed. ARRL VEC suggests that those without access to email to use the email address of a family member or friend. Licensees will be able to log in to the ULS using their FRN and password to download the latest version of their license at any time. The FCC no longer provides paper license documents.

The weekly Sunday night informational net will be on vacation starting May 3, 2021. The last net of this season will be May 2, 2021 and hope to hear you all. We plan on resuming the net sometime in October 2021. Please keep checking here on the web site for any further details during the summer months. Also be on the lookout for any news on the annual picnic and other goodies.

Here is an email from Jeremy AG7WT as to what he found on a trip to the peak this morning 4/10/21.

Here is what I found wrong with the north link antenna today.  This is the second time this has happened in the last couple years along with the backup repeater antenna.  They are both mounted on the same pole on the ice bridge.  Now that it has happened twice I think that’s enough to warrant moving them.  We will have to repare the north link antenna and buy the other antenna but do have the feed line and connectors to do the rest.  I will have to look at where we can put them on the tower and make a list of necessary hardware we will need to mount them, shouldn’t be much. 

On a side note Shane Whistler of Whistler communications was up there with his crew working on the lemay-pacific disposal radio system that is located in the same room as us.  They had feedline damage.  So that might be the interference we have been or at least contributing to it.

The short way up to the peak has been washed out so now the only way is to go the long way. Here are a few pics of the washout……