‰  NOW 18 WPM transition file follows‰

Each of the weekly solar and geomagnetic indicators that we track
were lower this week. Average daily sunspot number dropped 10.6
points to 25.1, and average daily solar flux was 4.5 points lower
than the previous week at 76.9.  It is comforting to see though that
we have not witnessed a day with 0 sunspots since April 17. Average
planetary and mid latitude A index were both 5.6, down from the
previous week which had planetary A index at 26.4 and mid latitude
at 18.4.  The A index is expected to remain quiet until May 17 to
20.  As of Thursday night, May 4, the predicted solar flux is 76 on
May 5 to 8, 74 on May 9 to 12, 75 on May 13 and 14, 80 on May 15 to
18, 85 on May 19 to 21, 80 on May 22 and 23, 77 on May 24 to 27, 75
on May 28 to 30, 73 on May 31 through June 8, 75 on June 9 and 10,
80 on June 11 to 14, 85 on June 15 and 16, and 88 on June 17.
Predicted planetary A index is 5 and 8 on May 5 and 6, 5 on May 7 to
9, then 8, 5, 8, 8, 5, and 8 on May 10 to 15, then 15, 30 and 25 on
May 16 to 18, then 45, 50, 15, 10 and 8 on May 19 to 23, then 5 on
May 24 to 27.  Then it is 12 and 8 on May 28 and 29, 5 on May 30
through June 1, 8 on June 2 to 4, and 5 on June 5 to 10, then 8, 15,
30, 25, 45 and 50 on June 11 to 16.  Remember, you can get a new and
revised 45 day forecast for solar flux and planetary A index daily,
usually after 2100 UTC from NOAA at,
//ftp.swpc.noaa.gov/pub/forecasts/45DF/ .  Sunspot numbers were 23,
35, 34, 33, 11, 25, and 15, with a mean of 25.1. 10.7 cm 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.  The new 630 meter and 2200 meter
bands are not yet available for Amateur Radio use. The effective
date of the recent FCC Report and Order granting these allocations
has not yet been determined, and until the start date has been set,
it is not legal under an Amateur Radio license to transmit on either
band.  The fact that the new rules contain a new information
collection requirement, notification of operation to the United
Telecoms Council or UTC, complicates the matter of determining an
effective date. According to the FCC R and O, the Office of
Management and Budget, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, must first
approve the information collection requirements in Part 97.303g2,
which must be in place before radio amateurs can use the new bands.
Once that happens, the FCC will publish a notice in The Federal
Register announcing such approval and the relevant effective date.
ARRL will announce the UTC notification procedures and the effective
date to use these new bands as soon as these are known.

‰  END OF 18 WPM transition file ƒ