From: James Hartmeyer <jth350@embarqmail.com>
Date: February 25, 2019 at 10:03:35 AM EST
To: PARS Members <ai4wl@arrl.net>
Subject: PARSgram 2019-02-25
PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Most hams love to try different antennas, and don’t give much thought to whether the new metal in the sky is a balanced or unbalanced system. The fact is, essentially all antennas have some degree of unbalance if only because their near field environment is not absolutely electrically symmetrical. The result is current on the feedline, which can radiate and get back into the shack, the house wiring, and into those marvelous electronic gadgets like TV’s, sound systems, etc. In most cases the solution is simple: installation of the appropriate balun at a critical point in the antenna system. How do you know what and when? Just go to dxengineering.com, click on tech info, and open the article by W8JI, “Choosing the Correct Balun,” a well written and easy to understand article. _…_ I hope some of you worked the NC QSO party over the weekend. I did not (I was working on the balun for my unbalanced OCF dipole to correct that TV thing) but did put some time in listening. Not only was there a lot of activity, some of it was DX stations no doubt trying to pick up rare counties in our state. Domestic QSO parties are great for those operators who like to make lots of short contacts, maybe for awards or testing new equipment, or just because they enjoy that kind of operating. It’s easy and fun, and you don’t need a megabuck station to do it. _…_ At the PARS meeting on Saturday we recognized the contributions of Jamie (KJ4JK) and Susan (KI4NSS) King to PARS, and amateur radio generally. They are relocating to the more westerly region of the state. We wish them all the best, and hope to hear them on the air again soon. …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) Feb 23, 2018 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-eight PARS members, visitors and guests attended the breakfast meeting chaired by President Bill Michne, WM3X, at Brantley’s Village Restaurant.
* Bill presented the treasurer’s report on behalf of Treasurer Wally Wallace, KK4ASP.
* Emergency Coordinator Mike Hurm, K4HPS, reported 5 emergency nets in October for 7.94 man-hours (Mh), 4 in November for 7.38 Mh, 4 in December for 11.72 Mh, and 5 in January for 14.25 Mh.
* Propagation Report: Solar activity continues to be very low with no Sunspots on 37 days in 2019 so far. Lack of Sunspots correlates with a mostly quiet geomagnetic field and low radio noise levels. DX signals may be weak but stations workable in these conditions, particularly on 160, 80 and 40 meters.
* President’s update–
– The club license admin info has been brought up to date. The club call can be “checked out” for use during contests. Bill maintains and responds to requests for QSL cards.
– Quarterly license exams sessions are on track, the first will be on Saturday, Apr 6th. “Field stocking” of materials has been approved. Exams can be administered on other than scheduled days as needed.
– PARS’ ARRL Field Day will be at the Pamlico Shrine Building again this year. According to Mike Hurm, the Shriners are planning to offer a BBQ Dinner for contesters and guests. More details to come.
– Challenges continue with proposed PARS support to the STEM program for Pamlico Middle School. Bill is now researching possible involvement in the state regional science fair.
* From the Floor- Bruce, KS8L, asked members to help with the 2019 MS 150 Bicycle Ride this year now scheduled for 7-8 September. The long rides through Pamlico County are on Saturday, those closer to New Bern on Sunday.
* On behalf of our members, Bill presented a plaque to Jamie (KJ4JK) and Susan (KI4NSS) King recognizing their broad contributions over the years to the Amateur Radio service in Pamlico County. Founding members of PARS, they have been involved in almost every activity. They are moving to Salisbury, NC in March.
* The meeting was adjourned at 0945.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours ending yesterday at 5 pm local. There are no numbered sunspot regions on the sun facing earth this morning. We are now up to 25 days in this spotless stretch, 39 for the year so far. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center activity is expected to be very low today through Wednesday. On Sunday, the reported Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 70. The index is predicted to be 71 today through Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is also 71.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be quiet today through Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 1 at 7 a.m. local this morning indicates quiet conditions.
We can expect good day and good night operating conditions on 80 and 40 meters, fair both day and night on 30 and 20. Poor conditions continue on the higher bands. Short skip was lacking on 40 Meters yesterday for the NC QSO Party, 80 was the band for working in-state stations. There was no significant Es activity on 6 meters reported on DXmaps over the weekend.
For an explanation of numbers used in our PARSgram, see the excellent article written by Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA at http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. A group of operators will be QRV as HD8M from Santa Cruz Island, IOTA SA-004, from February 27 to March 6. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters, using CW, SSB, and FT8 in DXpedition mode. This includes being active in the upcoming ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL via WB2REM.
DXPEDITION CALENDAR 2019
From various sources, a chronological list of planned major DXpeditions. If you are aware of others, please let us know. Changes from last week are in italics.
3Y0I Bouvet Island, “Mystery DXpedition” (https://bouvetoya.org )
XX9D Macao, 11-26 February (https://xx9d.mydx.de)
A5 Bhutan, 27 Feb-9 Mar (http://www.fgc.or.jp/english)
T31EU Kanton Island, 16 Feb-5 Mar (http://www.kanton2019.de)
7P8LB Lesotho, 8-16 Mar (http://www.la9vpa.com/7p8lb/index.html)
5X0T/5X0X Uganda, 13-25 March (www.12ysb.com/idt)
5V Togo, 14-28 March (https://5v7ei.com)
VK9N Norfolk Island, 1-14 April
ZK3 Tokelau Islands, 1-15 October (https://tokelau2019.com)
A2 Botswana, 20-29 October
VP6 Pitcairn Island, late October 2019, (https://pitcairndx.com)
OTHER ACTIVITY ON THE RADIO:
This info is extracted from the weekly ARRL Letter, from the WA7BNM Contest Calendar, the ARRL Contest Update or the ARRL Contest Corral. You can receive the Letter weekly via email as a member of ARRL.
* 02/0000-03/2359Z Mar 1.8-28 ARRL International DX Contest, SSB Ph (wwww.arrl.org/arrl-dx)
* 02/0000-10/2359Z Mar 3.5, 7, 21, 28, 144 Novice Rig Roundup, CW (novicerigroundup.com)
See the ARRL Contest Branch page
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
Send me your amateur radio related items for sale, trade, or wanted for listing in the PARSgram. PLEASE let me know if your listing is no longer needed. Listings will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise.–Jim.
FOR SALE– I have a Yaesu FT-897d I’d like to sell. I will lower the price for the local hams because I don’t have to go through the hassle of shipping it. I’d like $600 for it. Please post the link and note this is pick-up only. No shipping. More info at https://swap.qth.com/view_ad.php?counter=1409643
Contact Tom Akin, KB1MIQ, 801 Midyette St., Oriental. 207-432-5399 (20181224)
UPCOMING REGIONAL HAMFESTS:
***The 28th Annual Down East Hamfest in Kinston will be on Saturday April 6, 2019, from 8 am until 2 pm in the Lenoir Community College Gymnasium. For more info call Bill Highland at 252-347-1498 or go to www.downeasthamfest.org. ***
A complete list can be found on your PARS Website, www.n4prs.org
PARS CALENDAR:
* Mar 30, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* April 6, FCC License Examination/VE Session, Saturday 9am, Oriental Town Hall, Oriental. Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Apr 27, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Mondays, Pete’s “Pamlico Swamp Roundtable” (“Swamp Net” for some), around 8 pm local, 28.463 MHz plus or minus, USB. This is an informal forum originally established to assist our new Hams. The frequency is in the 10 Meter Band voice segment open to technician licensees and above. Radio related topics/questions/issues welcomed.
* Tuesdays, Newport Weather Service SKYWARN Practice Net, 9:00 pm local, Oriental (147.210+ (PL151.4)) and all other local repeaters. Open net for severe weather warning and reporting continously monitored upon activation.
* Wednesdays, Pamlico Emergency Net Practice and Rag Chew/ARES, 7:30 pm, Oriental Repeater, 147.210 + (PL151.4).
* Thursdays, “DownEast/Pamlico Six Meter Net”, 8 pm local, 50.200 MHz, USB. A non-directed open net to promote operation on the ‘Magic Band’.
(For more nets see www.arrl.org/arrl-net-directory-search )
PARS WEB SITE: https://www.n4prs.org/
Web Master is Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, 561-308-3456, davitbay@gmail.com
PARSgram ITEMS
We are always looking for items of interest to PARS members to put in the PARSgram. If you run across a timely item or think of something you believe would interest our folks, please send it to me. Thanks.
Jim AI4WL