PARS BREAKFAST MEETING THIS COMING SATURDAY
Our next meeting will be at 0900 this Saturday, Oct 26th at Brantley’s
Village Restaurant on Broad Street in Oriental. Please park on the side
or out back. Our meetings are held the last Saturday of each month
except June when the club participates in the annual ARRL Field Day or
when in conflict with a major holiday. We hope to see you all there. For
more information contact Pamlico Amateur Radio Society President Bill
Michne, WM3X, 249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Big weekend coming up. Event No. 1: The CQ World Wide DX SSB contest
runs from Friday evening at 8:00 PM until Sunday evening at 8:00 PM, 48
hours. This is probably the BIGGEST contest in the world. Last year
the total number of unique calls in the received logs exceeded 38,000,
and the total number of DXCC entities was just shy of 200. The rules
are simple, work everybody. The bands used are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and
10 meters. The exchange is just signal report and your CQ zone. Since
signal reports are meaningless everyone will send and receive a 59
report. Our zone is 05, so you would send your part of the exchange as
“5905.” Even with a modest station, say 100 watts and a dipole you
could go a long way toward your DXCC award in a weekend. _…_ Event
No 2: The monthly PARS meeting on Saturday morning. It’s the annual
election of club officers, so come to the meeting to support the
candidates of your choice, which could include yourself. If you can’t
make the meeting you can vote by proxy. Just send your selections to me
via email, and I’ll be sure they will be be counted. …_._ de WM3X,
Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours
ending yesterday at 5 pm local. There are no sunspot regions on the Sun
facing earth this morning. Today is our 217th day without sunspots so
far this year. This works out to 74% which surpasses the percentage of
spotless days (73%) at the bottom of cycle 23 in 2008. Now, how deep is
this record setting bottom going to be? Keep watching this space as we
find out…
Solar activity will continue to be very low according to the Space
Weather Prediction Center. On Sunday, the reported Solar Flux Index
(SFI) at Penticton was 65. The index is predicted to register 66 today
through Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is down to 67.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet today, quiet to active on Tuesday and then quiet to unsettled on
Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 1 at 5 a.m. local this morning
indicates we are currently experiencing quiet conditions.
We can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating conditions on 80
and 40 meters for the next few days. Poor conditions will continue on
the higher bands. Even with the foregoing gloomy view of the bands,
yesterday offered lots of DX: Pitcairn (RTTY, FT8), South Africa (SSB),
and the Lakshadweep Islands (FT8) all were heard on 20M as were the
European regulars.
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.
DX CHALLENGE CONTINUED….
VP6R, Pitcairn Island. A large group of operators are QRV as VP6R
until November 1. Activity is on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and
FT8 (F/H). This includes being an entry in the upcoming CQ World Wide DX
SSB contest. For more details go to https://pitcairndx.com. Be sure to
click on “How to Work VP6R” at the top of the home page for the band
plan and FT8 instructions.
And a new one-
LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS, VU7. Operators Sree, VU2OB, Shabu, VU2CAC and
Samson, VU3XTG will be QRV as VU7RI from October 10 to 30. Activity
will be on 80, 40, 30, 20 and 15 meters using CW, SSB and FT8. QSL
via M0KRI.
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**
– TenTech 411 Amplifier, uses three 811A tubes, similar in size to the
Collins “S” line amplifier. An almost new set of Chinese made 811’s
included. The amp is running vintage US Made 811A’s (higher power
output), and I have a number of additional vintage 811’s included. up to
100 watt drive, up to 600 watt RF output into 50 ohm load. Capable of
full QSK along with a Jupiter or other TenTec transceivers on CW;
possibly with other rigs. Can be operated on 110 volt, I have it wired
for 220 volt (don’t have 220 available in the house, or I might keep
it). Built before 10 meter capability was removed from amps, although I
really used it mostly on 75 and 40. Best pricing information I could
find on these is selling for an average of $650, I’ll sell with the
spare tubes for $525.
– TenTec 229B Tuner, capable of a full 2KW PEP, built as an L-network,
where additional capacitor has been added to cover 160 meters even. Has
a 4-position RF switch. Best pricing information I could find on these
is selling for an average of $250, I’ll sell for $210.
– Full 2KW Rotary Coaxial Switch (from the 1970’s), 5 positions plus one
grounding position, $35.
– B&W 50 ohm Dummy Load/Wattmeter, capable of full power BRIEFLY. Has
10/100/1KW meter. Overheating lamp is small 110 volt bulb and is burnt
out. Working but not sure of accuracy. $50.
– 2KW PEP 1:1 Coaxial to open wire balun (I’ll have to get this down
from the shop attic) available also.
Jim Cason, AC4JC, 252-636-0407 or jlcason@yahoo.com (20190930)
(Please note the correction to Jim’s email address, yahoo not AOL.)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Oct 26, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Nov 30, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Tuesdays, Newport Weather Service SKYWARN Practice Net, 9:00 pm
local, Oriental (147.210+ (PL151.4)) and all other local repeaters. This
net for severe weather warning and reporting is 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/
Our web Master is Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, 561-308-3456, PARSwebman@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.
73, Jim AI4WL
——
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