‰ Now 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

Solar activity weakened over the current reporting period, April 11
to 17, and geomagnetic conditions were stable as well.  The
predicted geomagnetic storm did not happen last weekend, with both
the planetary and mid latitude A index only rising to 10 on Sunday
April 14 in response to a glancing blow from a CME.  Average daily
sunspot numbers declined nearly 25 points to 113.3, and average
daily solar flux was down over 17 points to 121.7.  Predicted flux
values for the near term are 95 on April 19, 90 on April 20 to 23,
95 on April 24 and 25, 100 on April 26, 110 on April 27 and 28, 115
on April 29 and 30, 120 on May 1 and 2, 125 on May 3 to 6, 120 on
May 7 and 8, and 115 on May 9 to 12.  The predicted planetary A
index is 5 on April 19 to 22, 12 on April 23 to 25, 15 on April 26,
5 on April 27 to May 4, 8 on May 5, 5 on May 6 to 11, and 8 on May
12.  F.K. Janda, OK1HH of the Czech Propagation Interest Group
predicts the geomagnetic field will be quiet to unsettled April 19,
quiet April 20, mostly quiet April 21, quiet to unsettled April 22,
quiet to active April 23, active to disturbed April 24, quiet to
active April 25, active to disturbed April 26, quiet to unsettled
April 27 and 28, mostly quiet April 29 and 30, quiet May 1 to 4,
mostly quiet May 5, quiet May 6 and 7, mostly quiet May 8, quiet May
9, mostly quiet May 10, quiet to unsettled May 11 and 12, and mostly
quiet May 13.  Sunspot numbers were 121, 128, 148, 111, 99, 97, and
89, with a mean of 113.3. 10.7 cm flux was 137.1, 137.9, 125.1,
116.8, 113.3, 113.3, and 108.1, with a mean of 121.7.  Estimated
planetary A indices were 5, 5, 6, 10, 5, 3, and 3, with a mean of
5.3. Estimated mid latitude A indices were 4, 4, 6, 10, 6, 2, and 2,
with a mean of 4.9.  On April 16, the FCC issued a Second Memorandum
Opinion and Order denying the ARRLs December 2011 Petition for
Reconsideration that sought reconsideration of the FCCs Second
Report and Order, BPL Second Order, fundamentally affirming its
rules for Access Broadband over Power Line, Access BPL systems.  In
denying the ARRLs Petition, the FCC noted that the Petition did not
raise new arguments based on new information in the record or on the
Commissions new analysis of limited points as directed by the Court,
nor does it demonstrate any errors or omissions in the Commissions
previous decisions, and that its previous rulings strike an
appropriate balance between the dual objectives of providing for
Access BPL technology, which has potential applications for
broadband and Smart Grid uses, while protecting incumbent radio
services against harmful interference.

‰ End of 18 WPM transition file ‰