‰ Now 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

W1AW will conduct a Spring Frequency Measuring Text. This FMT will
begin on Wednesday, May 21 at 945 PM EDT, or 0145z on May 22,
replacing W1AWs normally scheduled phone bulletin. For this FMT,
participants are asked to measure the frequency of an audio tone,
given an exact frequency for the carrier signal. The tone will be
between 1000 to 2500 Hz. The carrier frequencies will be 3990 kHz
LSB, 7290 kHz LSB, 14290 kHz USB and 18160 kHz USB.  The techniques
for measuring a modulating tone are described in the November 2004
QST in an article on the Frequency Measuring Test by H. Ward Silver,
N0AX.  The FMT will start with a general QST call from W1AW at
exactly 0145z, transmitted simultaneously on the frequencies
mentioned above.  The test will consist of three 60 second key down
transmissions for each band, followed by a station identification.
The test will last for approximately 15 minutes and will end with
station identification.  W1AW will identify before, during and after
the transmissions. There are no plans at this time for a West Coast
station.  As in the November 2007 FMT, your report should be
submitted via the FMT Report form web site at,
www.b4h.net/fmt/fmtentry.php.  Along with your call sign and e mail
address, enter your most accurate measurement on each band. There
will be a window to list your equipment, describe the method you
used to make the measurements and enter any Soapbox comments.
Participants have 14 days to input their data.  Participants may
input their data more than once, although the final entry will be
the one used for the results.  W1AW will post the transmitted
frequencies on the W1AW FMT Web site shortly following the test.
This will allow participants to quickly determine the accuracy of
their equipment and methods. A complete package of results will be
available via the FMT Web site after the 14 day reporting period is
concluded.  Weve had another week with no sunspots.  Our reporting
week for this bulletin runs from Thursday through Wednesday, and
this is the fifth bulletin of the year reporting zero sunspots for
the week. The others were Propagation Forecast Bulletins ARLP003, 4,
7 and 8.  All of the remaining 16 bulletins had at least one day
with sunspots in the reporting period.  Geomagnetic indices were
quiet.  But next Tuesday, May 20 should be quite active.  The
predicted planetary A index for May 16 to 22 is 5, 5, 5, 12, 30, 15
and 8.  Geophysical Institute Prague expects quiet conditions May 16
to 18, quiet to unsettled May 19, active geomagnetic conditions May
20, unsettled May 21, and quiet to unsettled May 22.  Sunspot
numbers were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0 with a mean of 0.  10R7 cm flux
was 66R4, 67R3, 67R4, 68, 68, 68R3, and 69 with a mean of 67R8.
Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 3, 5, 3, 4, 4 and 3 with a
mean of 3R7.  Estimated mid latitude A indices were 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3
and 1, with a mean of 2R9‚

‰ End of 18 WPM transition file ‰