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=== GDNW WEEKLY === 2026-08-23 === #2026-W34 ===
NCS: HB9HJU | https://aro.travel/gdnw

[1] HF OUTLOOK (Score: 5/5, Excellent)
    SFI:124 | Kp:1.7 | A:6
    Band Matrix: 10m FAIR | 15m GOOD | 20m GOOD | 40m GOOD | 80m GOOD
    Best bets: 15m, 20m, 40m, 80m looking strong this week

[2] TOP STORY
    Our G1 watch verified. The week ending Aug 22 opened
    quiet, then the storm we flagged arrived right on
    schedule: planetary Kp reached 5.3 on Aug 18 and 5.0
    on Aug 19, with the daily A index peaking at 27.
    That is minor storm territory, and the high latitude
    paths took the expected hit for roughly 48 hours.
    Solar flux, meanwhile, held a steady plateau in the
    mid to high 120s from end to end, opening at 131 on
    Aug 16 and closing at 124 on Aug 22. So the openings
    were there on the higher bands whenever the field
    let them through, and 20m stayed the reliable
    workhorse across the disturbed days.
    Then it settled, and settled hard. By Aug 22 Kp was
    down to 1.3 with an A index of 3, about as quiet as
    the geomagnetic field gets. That is the picture we
    carry into this week: solid flux near 124 over a
    calm field, which is the combination worth planning
    a weekend of operating around.
    Contest highlight: World Wide Digi DX Contest,
    1200Z Aug 29 to 1200Z Aug 30, FT4 and FT8.

[3] QUICK HITS
    - The G1 storming forecast in last week's bulletin verified on schedule: planetary Kp reached 5.3 on Aug 18 and 5.0 on Aug 19, with the daily A index at 27.
    - Solar flux plateaued in the mid to high 120s all week, from 131 on Aug 16 to 124 on Aug 22, keeping 15 and 20 metres useful between the disturbed days.
    - Conditions settled sharply into the weekend, with Kp at 1.3 and the A index at 3 on Aug 22, giving the new week a quiet start.
    - The World Wide Digi DX Contest runs 1200Z Aug 29 to 1200Z Aug 30 on FT4 and FT8. It is the year's main digital DX weekend and a natural fit for anyone who already lives in the sound card modes.
    - The RI1FJL team reached Heiss Island, Franz Josef Land (EU-019) in the late morning UTC on Aug 21, after rough seas, wind and fog slowed the approach. Listen for them on CW, SSB and FT8.
    - John, W5JON, is active as V47JA from St. Kitts (NA-104) on Aug 24 to 31, running SSB and FT8, QSL via LoTW or direct.
    - V51WH and V55Y are active from Namibia from Aug 25 through Oct 10 on 160 to 6 metres, using SSB, FT8, RTTY and CW.
    - The Northern California DX Foundation has announced a grant of 145,000 US dollars to the VP0SG South Georgia DXpedition planned for March 2027.
    - ARO milestone: the net stands at 993 all time check-ins, just 7 short of its 1,000th since 2021. Cycle 265 closes Friday Aug 28. This is the cycle that crosses the line, and the operator who does it will be named in the next report.

[4] READINESS: GREEN
    No active emergency deployments. Winlink gateways nominal.

[5] CALENDAR (next 7 days)
    - ARO JS8/Winlink Net: Sunday 00:00 to Friday 23:59 UTC
    - JS8CALL live session: Saturday 21:00 UTC on 7.078 MHz (40m)
    - 3B8/SQ9UM Mauritius (AF-049) active: through Aug 27
    - V47JA St. Kitts (NA-104) active: Aug 24 to 31
    - ZL Sprint: 0800Z to 0929Z Aug 25
    - V51WH and V55Y Namibia active: from Aug 25
    - ARO Net Cycle 265 check-in window closes: Friday Aug 28
    - SCRY/RTTYOps WW DX RTTY: 2200Z Aug 28 to 1200Z Aug 29
    - U.S. Islands QSO Party: 1200Z Aug 29 to 0300Z Aug 30
    - World Wide Digi DX Contest: 1200Z Aug 29 to 1200Z Aug 30
    - Kansas QSO Party: 1400Z Aug 29 to 0200Z Aug 30

[6] COMMUNITY
    Last net (Cycle 264): 3 check-ins from 3 operators
    Countries: US
    Net streak: 15 consecutive active weeks
    Cumulative: 993 check-ins across 187 active cycles
    Challenge: Reply to AROWNLKNET with your grid square and current
    antenna setup. Best portable setups featured next week!

[7] 73 DE HB9HJU
    Thanks for reading the GDNW. See you on the air.
    Full archive: https://aro.travel/gdnw

=== END GDNW #2026-W34 === Next edition: Sunday ===