‰ Now 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

Solar activity increased over the past week, with average daily
sunspot numbers up 32 points to 81.6, and average daily solar flux
increasing more than 16 points to 113.4. The geomagnetic field was
active on March 29, due to solar wind.  The predicted solar flux is
130 on April 5 to 7, 125, 115 and 110 on April 8 to 10, 105 on April
11 and 12, 120 on April 13 and 14, 115 on April 15, 110 on April 16
and 17, 105 on April 18 and 19, 100 on April 20 and 21, 105 on April
22 and 110 on April 23 and 24.  The predicted planetary A index is 5
on April 5, 8 on April 6, 5 on April 7 to 9, 8 on April 10 to 12, 5
on April 13 to 22, then 12, 8, 18 and 15 on April 23 to 26, 5 on
April 27 to 29, and 8 on April 30 through May 4.  OK1HH predicts the
geomagnetic field will be mostly quiet April 5, quiet to active
April 6, quiet to unsettled April 7, mostly quiet April 8 and 9,
quiet April 10, quiet to unsettled April 11 and 12, quiet to active
April 13 and 14, mostly quiet April 15, active to disturbed April 16
and 17, mostly quiet April 18 and 19, quiet April 20 to 22.  Active
to disturbed April 23, quiet to unsettled April 24, quiet to active
April 25, quiet to unsettled April 26, and mostly quiet April 27.
Our three month moving average of sunspot numbers for January
through March was 80.7. To review recent numbers, the three month
moving average of sunspot numbers centered on January, 2012 through
February, 2013 were 83.3, 73.7, 71.2, 87.3, 91.5, 96.5, 91.9, 89.9,
81.2, 82.3, 74.4, 82.8, 73.6, and 80.7.  If you would like to make a
comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at, k7ra at
arrl.net.  For more information concerning radio propagation, see
the ARRL Technical Information Service web page.  A detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin is also available
on this site.  An archive of past propagation bulletins is also
available.  Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and
twelve overseas locations can be found on the W1AW web site.  Find
more good information and tutorials on propagation on the k9la web
site.  The multiple websites mentioned in this bulletin can be found
in teleprinter, packet and Internet versions of 2013 Propagation
Forecast Bulletin ARLP014.  Sunspot numbers were 49, 73, 70, 83, 84,
103, and 109, with a mean of 81.6. 10.7 cm flux was 98.7, 105.1,
108.4, 113.3, 119.1, 122.1, and 127, with a mean of 113.4. Estimated
planetary A indices were 9, 23, 17, 4, 6, 4, and 3, with a mean of
9.4. Estimated mid latitude A indices were 10, 19, 12, 3, 6, 4, and
3, with a mean of 8.1.  On March 27, the FCC released a First Report
and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and a Notice of
Inquiry, ET Docket Nos. 13 84 and 03 137. The documents seek to
reassess the FCCs RF exposure limits and policies, as well as to
propose changes to the FCCs rules regarding human exposure to RF
electromagnetic fields.  These proposed changes would affect the
Amateur Radio Service.  The First Report and Order can be found on
the web in PDF format at //transition.fcc.gov/.  In the 201 page
document, the FCC noted that periodic review of the governments
rules and regulations to ensure they have kept pace with current
knowledge and changing needs is an important characteristic of good
government, and will advance the process of providing a
comprehensive review and modification, where appropriate, of the
Commissions various rules pertaining to the implementation of the
National Environmental Policy Act requirements for environmental
reviews, specifically those reviews related to health and safety of
radiofrequency emissions from radio transmitters.

‰ End of 18 WPM transition file ‰