The average daily sunspot numbers this week were about the same as last week, while the average daily solar flux declined a little more than eight points to 128.9. Geomagnetic indicators were quiet. The average daily sunspot numbers of 95.3 for the week is considerably below the average for the previous 90 days, which was 120.8. Sunspot numbers for December 15-21 were 44, 60, 95, 103, 133, 139 and 93, with a mean of 95.3. The 10.7 cm flux was 124.2, 121, 119.6, 127.4, 128.2, 137.4 and 144.5, with a mean of 128.9. The estimated planetary A indices were 0, 0, 0, 1, 4, 3 and 3, with a mean of 1.6. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 2, 2, 3, 6, 5 and 5, with a mean of 3.6.
The solar flux has been climbing over the past week, after a low of 119.6 on December 17. The predicted flux values for the near term are 145 on December 23, 140 on December 24-27, 145 on December 28-30, then dropping suddenly to 120 on December 31-January 2, 125 on January 3-4, 128 on January 5-8, and then peaking at 130 on January 9-17. The predicted planetary A index is 5 on December 23 through January 4, 8 on January 5-6, and 5 on January 7-21. This is from NOAA and the U.S. Air Force Space Weather Operations. There is another opinion, of course: Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions December 23, quiet to unsettled December 24, active conditions December 25, unsettled to active December 26, quiet to unsettled December 27 and quiet again on December 28-29.
Active conditions are quite different from an A index of 5, although the NOAA/USAF outlook is at least eight hours newer than the Prague prediction. But looking back 24 hours earlier to the December 21 prediction, USAF/NOAA has nothing different on December 25, although they do show an A index of 8 on December 29. You can check here for the latest prediction, which is updated daily after 2100.
Loyd C. Headrick Published Date Hits: 444
Category: ARRL
NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 21, 2001--Several hams with young children report their kids have enjoyed the thrill of their lives talking with Santa via ham radio. The W6S "Santa's Workshop" special event operation by ARRL member Mickey Hicks, WO6T, in Bakersfield, California, now is in its 30th year of helping to make the season special for youngsters.
"Hats off to WO6T!" enthused Peter Schipelliti, W1DAD, of Atkinson, New Hampshire, who says he bumped into the W6S Santa's Workshop station while he was tuning around on 20 meters the evening of December 19. He awoke daughter, Geena--at age 6 already a seasoned Kid's Day veteran--so she could talk to Santa.
"She had a great time, especially when Santa recited our address and said that he would be coming next week," Schipelliti said. "Santa reinforced some basic values and reminded her that she should share her toys and continue to be good."
Hicks, 71, says he started his Santa's Workshop effort as a one-night effort, but he soon realized he needed to expand it. The annual W6S special event now runs for 10 days each Christmas season and occupies 7 to 10 hours of his day, including preparing.
"It's not scripted," he said. "I ad lib all the time." He said he spreads his effort out among several bands too--and notes that 17 meters has been great this year. Hicks estimates that he speaks with 400 to 500 youngsters each holiday season, and sometimes they include children of the youngsters he'd met years earlier.
The W6S "Santa's Workshop" Web cam. That's a straight key partially obscured at Santa's left--Hick's is a big believer in the value of Morse code. |
During his QSO with W1DAD, Santa mentioned his Web cam site. "It was great," Schipelliti said. "We saw Santa from the back and a whole bunch of equipment and computers." Hicks said the Web cam is a new twist the past couple of years that has proven to be a big hit with the kids.
Schipelliti said he and Geena heard Santa talking with some other children too. "He started out by asking them their name and age. Then, he would ask them one thing they were looking forward to," he said. One very shy four-year-old girl didn't want to talk. "Her dad was basically speaking for her, and Santa was very gentle," Schipelliti said. "At the end he used his charm to at least get her to say goodbye. Once he broke the ice with her, he mentioned the reindeer one by one and she repeated each name, one by one, back and forth, with more excitement each time."
The W6S "Santa's Workshop" QSL. |
Schipelliti said that when his almost-five-year-old son Luciano found out that his sister got to talk with Santa, he wanted to know if Santa would be on the air again. "He made me promise to wake him up so he could speak with Santa Claus on the radio," Schipelliti said.
A ham for 41 years and a long-time Amateur Radio instructor, Hicks says his Santa's Workshop has been a great ham radio recruiting tool. One of his most memorable experiences was when a young girl he'd once spoken with on the air as Santa came by with her ham ticket in hand to thank him in person for getting her interested. "I had tears in my eyes, of course," he said.
The W6S Santa's Workshop special event operates on or about 14.270, 18.135, 21.335 and 28.335 MHz. It continues through Christmas Eve, December 24. QSL via WO6T, who says Santa Ham always appreciates a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the reply card.