PARS MEETING THIS COMING SATURDAY, OCT 31, 2020
**** 9:AM VIA “ZOOM” *****
We will be holding this month’s PARS meeting via Zoom. Prior to the
meeting, it is recommended to download the Zoom application to the
device you wish to use. Steve Silveira, KO4EDA, will again be our
technical host for the meeting.
If you are on MacOS or Windows proceed to https://zoom.us. In the top
right corner there is a drop down menu labeled “Resources”. Click the
“Download Zoom Client” link to install. If you are on an iPhone or iPad
get the app from the App Store, and if you are on Android phone or
tablet, get the app from Google Play Store.
Here is the meeting link and ID for the Saturday October 31, 2020 PARS
Monthly Meeting and also for the November and December meetings:
Topic: PARS Monthly Meeting
Time: Oct 31, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://cravenk12.zoom.us/j/ For entry codes email AI4WL at: jth350@embarqmail.com
Meeting ID: For entry ID email AI4WL at: jth350@embarqmail.com
Dial in: 1-646-558-8656
You can join the meeting one of 3 ways:
- Click the link to join the meeting, on MacOS and Windows you should
be prompted to Open the Zoom App, and on mobile devices and tablets it
should just open.
- Open your Zoom App (MacOS, Windows, and Mobile Devices) and click
“Join a Meeting” (or the “Join” Button if already signed in), then type
in the Meeting ID and enter your name and click Join.
- If you cannot seem to get Zoom working or do not have a compatible
device, dial in via the phone number provided above.
If you have questions regarding “Zoom” that you can’t resolve, please
email Steve at rastoban@gmail.com.
PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
One of the factors considered essential to the success of a nation’s
military defense operation is the effectiveness of its communications
system. Over the last thirty years or so the great powers have become
increasingly dependent on satellite communication technology and the
increased bandwidth available at VHF, UHF, and higher frequencies. What
if an enemy were to knock out our communications satellite system? Could
happen. For example, China recently launched a new naval destroyer with
anti-satellite capability. So a few of our forward thinking military
leaders are actively promoting establishment of a backup system using
the HF region of the spectrum in general, and NVIS propagation
technology in particular. These military experts are saying that radio
amateurs are a “highly knowledgeable asset in HF communication.” And
for those who think that CW is dead, take note that the US Army
continues to train and maintain a small group of highly skilled Morse
code operators. Check out QRZ.com for the full story, and don’t junk
that J-38 just yet. And if you don’t know what a J-38 is, try using it
as a search term on ebay. _…_
The monthly PARS meeting will take
place this Saturday at 9:00 AM via ZOOM. This is the meeting at which
we elect the club officers for the next year. My inbox has not exactly
been stuffed with nominations and I haven’t seen any reason to schedule
any debates. Nevertheless, the window for nominations will remain open
until it is closed at the meeting. …_._ 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 is one small sunspot region on the
Sun facing Earth this morning, a larger one is just starting to appear.
Solar activity is still expected to be very low through Wednesday. On
Sunday the observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 74. The
index is predicted to register 74 today, 72 Tuesday and 70 on Wednesday.
The SFI 90 day trailing average is 72.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. It is
expected to reach minor storm levels today, quiet to active Tuesday and
quiet to active on Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 3 reported at 5
a.m. local this morning indicates we are currently experiencing quiet
geomagnetic conditions.
For today, we can expect poor daytime and fair nighttime operating
conditions on 80 and 40 meters and fair conditions on 30 and 20. Expect
poor conditions on the higher HF bands. There was lots of activity–and
DX–on the HF bands over the weekend due to the CQ WW DX SSB Contest.
The VHF bands remain mostly quiet. There has been some FT8 and SSB
activity late afternoons this past week on 6 meters, mostly to the north
and in the Midwest. Weather related ducting should have enhanced the 2M
and 440 MHz bands during the past few days. Antenna TV users here have
been watching WRAL on virtual Channel 5 in Raleigh off and on but
missing some of the World Series on Channel 14 out of Trenton.
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
For listing in the PARSgram send me your amateur radio related items
that you have for sale, trade, or wanted. PLEASE let me know when you
have have sold your item or your listing is no longer needed. Listings
will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise.–Jim.
**For Sale**
Heil Fooot Switch, push to transmit. $15.00. Contact Ed Valentine,
W2YPM, at 252-637-3161 or w2ypm@earthlink.net. (20201019)
**Estate Ham Equipment For Sale**
Eddie Lyon, K4NGR, provided a long list of equipment he is wishing to
sell on behalf of the wife of a fellow ham who passed several weeks ago.
Major items on the list with prices paid includes a Yaesu FT2000/HF
Transceiver $2,115, GAP Titan Vertical $534, Yaesu MD-100 Mic $179,
ICOM-2300H Transceiver and Mag mount Antenna $200, Ten-Tec Argosy HF
Transceiver $300, Ammeritron AL-811H Amp $999, MFJ-269 Antenna Analyzer
$286 and many more items. “These prices are what he had paid for them
brand new so whatever we can get for them to help his wife Pat out will
be most appreciated.” For a complete list or more information please
contact Eddie at ELyon47@aol.com or 540-905-5839.
PARS CALENDAR:
* Oct 31, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
“Zoom”. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or
drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Nov 28, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
“Zoom” or at Brantleys Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill
Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* 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
COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO CLIMB IN PAMLICO COUNTY
As of yesterday, our County had tallied 310 COVID-19 cases, 104 of those
were in the Pamlico Correctional Institute. Most of the 310 have
recovered, but 10 are active. There have been two deaths. According to
towndock.net, three zip codes in the county that previously reported no
cases now have case counts: 1 case in 28537, 5 in 28587, and 3 in 28583.
You can find help with solving the aggravations that come with wearing a
mask at the URL below:
https://us19.campaign-archive.com/?e=adb5dfd6c4&u=87916e588364d43fd5a2d013b&id=025bd40699
- Please mask up in public and stay safe. Jim AI4WL
——
This email is sent to members and friends of the Pamlico Amateur Radio
Society. We are pleased that you asked to receive our weekly newsletter
and hope that you enjoy reading it. If you no longer wish to receive the
PARSgram please let us know by reply email or by email to
jth350@embarqmail.com.
—-