Rare California Island to be Activated for Armed Forces Day, First Time in 53 Years

On Armed Forces Day, May 1971, 53 years ago, two amateur operators working as WZ6SNI, activated San Nicolas Island, IOTA NA-066. At 61 miles, San Nicolas is the most remote of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California and is owned by the US Navy.

Now, weather permitting, Will Costello, WC6DX, has been authorised to be active from San Nicolas Island 8-12 November 2024. He is taking a Buddihex antenna for 6 - 20 metres and a 100 watt rig.

For island chasers in southern California, Arizona, and southern Nevada who may not be able to hear because of skip, he will also take a Buddipole antenna for 40 - 30 meters daytime use. Operations will be primarily SSB, and CW if conditions deteriorate due to solar flares.

QSL instructions will be on WC6DX’s QRZ.com after the operation.

More Information - https://www.arrl.org/news/view/rare-california-island-to-be-activated-for-armed-forces-day-first-time-in-53-years

ISS SSTV Event Celebrates Amateur Radio in Human Spaceflight

SSTV images will be transmitted from the International Space Station between 11th and 18th November 2024. The images will feature activities from the 40th Anniversary Celebrating Amateur Radio in Human Spaceflight, an event hosted by ARISS earlier this year at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

The event is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 11 at 11:50 UTC and to end Monday 18th November at 13:40 UTC. SSTV transmissions will be paused during scheduled school contacts on 15 and 16th November. Downlink transmissions will be at 145.800 MHz and the mode is expected to be PD 120.

Certificates will be available to operators uploading images to the ARISS SSTV gallery.

2024 ARRL Field Day Results Published

Results are published, and the numbers are in. They paint a picture of a very active 2024 ARRL Field Day. Nearly 1.3 million contacts were reported during the 24-hour event. That is up from 2023’s 1.25 million contacts. That’s likely indicative of the continued rise of Solar Cycle 25 leading up to the event, but more people also participated this year.

Entries were received from all 85 ARRL and Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) sections, as well as from 27 different countries from outside the US and Canada. “It is encouraging to see a rise in participation year to year,” said ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE. “ARRL Field Day is amateur radio’s premier event, and the hams turned out for it.”

Field Day is whatever you make it. For some participants, it’s a contest; for others, it’s a social gathering and club activity. Other groups use Field Day to showcase what amateur radio is all about to the public. Some groups use Field Day as an opportunity to introduce youths to amateur radio.

Class A, B, and C scores are included in the 2024 QST results article. The scores for Class D, E and F stations and club aggregate scores are listed in the 2024 line scores on the web, as well in the digital edition of QST.

Results are available now on the ARRL Field Day website - https://field-day.arrl.org/fdresults.php