LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING WINDS FORECAST FOR TODAY, APRIL 13
From the NWS Newport 0507/13 Apr 20 Hazardous Weather Outlook:
” Tornado Watch.
Wind Advisory (Gusts to 50 MPH)
Scattered to numerous strong to severe thunderstorms are expected
across the region late this morning and this afternoon. The main
threats are strong damaging wind gusts, tornadoes and large hail.”
A earlier weather briefing requested Spotter Reports of Tornado/Funnel
Cloud, hail, damaging winds, flooding, and measured rainfall over 1 inch
per hour to 1-800-889-6889.
PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
We’re beginning to hear a lot about the effects of sheltering in place.
Some folks are doing strange things to combat boredom. One guy has
taken to building tiny picnic tables that he puts out in his yard for
the squirrels to sit at while dining on the nuts he leaves out for them.
One woman has admitted to taking calls from telemarketers just to have
someone to talk to. She claims most callers are really quite nice.
Well, I think we hams can do better than that. If you’ve already worked
everybody, you could (or at least try) to build something. What to
build? Check out the May issue of QST. Therein you will find an article
on a the K1EL Systems Morse tutor kit. It’s a code tutor with a number
of practice modes, and a memory keyer as well. It comes with a well
illustrated manual making it a good construction and soldering tutor,
too. For something a bit more challenging you could build the Pacific
Antenna Voltage monitor kit. This device tracks power supply (including
battery) voltage to let you know if your voltage is too high or too low.
You can set the high and low voltage points, and if your supply
exceeds them it tells you by flashing an LED and sending Morse L for low
and Morse H for high. So you get to learn some code in the process.
Finally, if you’re really up for a challenge, WA3TFS describes a
“simple” high frequency communications receiver. Not a beginner’s
project, but he can provide circuit boards and partial kits. This
project could well get you through this entire virus thing. Meanwhile,
73 and stay well. 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 numbered sunspot regions on
the Sun facing Earth this morning. Solar activity will continue to be
very low through Wednesday according to the Space Weather Prediction
Center. On Sunday, the reported Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was
71, the same as last Sunday’s reading. The index is predicted to
register 68 today through Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day
trailing average remains 71.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. It is
expected to be quiet through Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 1
reported 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, fair both day and night on 30 and 20. Expect poor
conditions on the higher bands. We may have an early summer Es season.
DXMaps sported lots of FT8 and some CW and even SSB long distance
contacts on 6 meters yesterday afternoon. Other reports indicate this
up-tick in activity has been going on for at least the past week.
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.
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**
1. Titan DX Multiband Antenna SOLD
2. Daiwa CN101L. SWR AND POWER METER. NEW. (COST $130). $45
3. ASTRON POWER Supply SOLD.
NOTE: All 3 items include instructions Contact: Larry Jones,
ljonesnc4@gmail.com or at 252 617-0525. Will consider reasonable offers.
(20200309)
**FOR SALE**by Sam/Dave Bacon, KD2T, davebacon137@embarqmail.com or
252-617-0359 (20200120)
* MFJ-928 Automatic antenna turner will handle 200w CW or SSB. Handles
up to 2 antennas. Tunes with 2 watts. Tunes in15 seconds. Audio SWR
meter. 20,000 memories. 4 memory banks. New $199.95 available for $145.00
* Ameritron 811 HF amplifier. SOLD
* Yaesu SP 2000 Speaker with dust cover. External speaker with filters.
Yaesu grey color. Has dust cover. New at Gigi Parts $184.00 available at
$135.00.
* MFJ-1260 Mic/Rig Switch. Allows you to use 2 mics with 1 rig. MFJ
price is $119.95 Yours for $75.00
* MFJ-471RC Remote Control Antenna Switch. Remote control up to 2
antenna from your shack. Control voltage travel on the feed coax. No
need for a control wire. MFJ price $89.95 Your for $50.00
* MFJ1701 6 Position Manual Antenna Switch. Manually switch between up
to 6 different antennas. Has a scratch on the face. MFJ price $99.95
yours for $50.00
PARS CALENDAR:
* Apr 25, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Venue TBD. For more
info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* May 30, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Venue TBD. 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.
Stay safe, stay back 2 meters.
73, Jim AI4WL
——
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