SEVERE WEATHER FORECAST FOR TODAY, APRIL 20
From the NWS Newport 2101/19 Apr 20 Briefing
Pamlico County is in the area of greatest threat for severe weather
especially from 0800-1200 when scattered thunderstorms could bring heavy
downpours, damaging wind gusts and hail with tornado’s also possible.
Send Spotter Reports of Tornado/Funnel Cloud, hail, damaging winds,
flooding, and measured rainfall over 1 inch per hour to 1-800-889-6889.
PARS MEETING THIS COMING SATURDAY
****9:AM ON THE RADIO*****
Extracted from the President’s Soapbox of 23 Mar 2020:
“Because of the restrictions… the PARS meeting will take place on the
Oriental repeater (147.21 MHz, +600 kHz, 151.4 Hz tone), beginning at
9:00 AM. Stations wishing to participate may check in following
instructions provided by net control. You must be checked in in order
to query, comment, or vote on a topic under discussion… We will
continue to meet in this manner until such time as the restrictions are
lifted.”
PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
ARRL/VEC is actively pursuing the development of online testing. This
is being closely supervised, and testing is being done on a very small
scale. ARRL/VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said, “… that with the
introduction of significant new processes such as these, that there
should be proof of concept, establishment of protocols and procedures,
and beta testing, before expanding to a larger audience.” In other
words, it’s going to take some time to get remote testing up and
running. We may well be through this virus thing and back to normal
testing before then. _…_ Following the high wind induced collapse of
my 44′ vertical antenna a few weeks ago, I made the necessary repairs
and beefed up the guying system according to guidelines put out by Rohn
Towers for guying their telescoping masts. At this point I have erected
about 26′ or so with the new guy configuration. Saturday’s storm saw
gusts in the 50 mph range, and the antenna came through unscathed. Dick,
K4JJW, was not so lucky, having lost one of his wire antennas to a
swaying pine tree. But by Sunday afternoon he was back up and running.
Unfortunately, I can’t go any higher now as I am awaiting delivery of
additional parts. With all the shut downs stuff is moving real slow.
…_._ 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
69, down two from last Sunday’s reading. The index is predicted to
register 69 today through Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day
trailing average is still 71.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet to active today and then quiet to unsettled on Tuesday and
Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 4 reported at 5 a.m. local this
morning indicates we are currently experiencing unsettled conditions.
We can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating conditions on 80
and 40 meters. Expect poor conditions on the higher bands. That said, we
had an early summer Es blast last week. Most afternoons and early
evenings provided lots of FT8, CW and some SSB long distance contacts on
6 meters. From Whortonsville, many contacts were made into the mid-west,
some over 1,100 miles. About time for some good news!
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.
PARS JOINS THE COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE NETWORK
PARS is one of a group of churches, organizations and small businesses
in Pamlico County that will receive important information for our
members about COVID-19 from the recently formed COVID-19 COMMUNITY TASK
FORCE. The goals for the task force are to assist the County to
mitigate or slow the spread of the virus and support the County in
preparing for an infection surge. We expect to share COVID-19
information via special PARSgrams as necessary. If you have issues or
concerns for the task force please send them to me and I will pass them
on–Jim
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, By VHF Radio over the
Oriental Repeater (147.21 MHz, std offset, 151.4 Hz tone). 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, visit your friends on the Oriental Repeater…
73, Jim AI4WL
——
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