PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
What a terrific program we had on Saturday following the regular PARS
business meeting. Our guest speaker was Bob Heil of Heil Audio. Bob
came to us from his shack in Illinois via ZOOM. The talk was both
educational and entertaining. I was delighted to learn things about my
radios’ audio functions that just might get me on single sideband a lot
more often. I also learned why a Heil microphone that works great on an
Icom doesn’t work at all on a Yaesu! Thanks to VP Bruce for putting
together this outstanding program! _…_ Congratulations to Pamlico
County resident Paul Manganaro on passing his Technician test last week.
Paul self studied for the test and aced it! He will be joining PARS,
of course, and will also be joining Joe, N4IBX, and Steve, KO4EDA, in my
General Class upgrade course beginning this week. I’m hoping to be able
to run a Technician course, and maybe an Extra later this year. …_._
de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) JAN 30, 2021 VIRTUAL MEETING NOTES
* Twenty PARS members and guests attended the 9 am meeting chaired by
President Bill Michne via Zoom. Steve Silveira, KO4EDA, was our
technical host.
* Rewards or upgrades. Charlie, WA4GSI has been appointed a Lieutenant
in the Continental Army. Bruce, K4ONC received a QSL card in braille
from a blind Spanish ham. Paul Manganaro passed his tech exam on Friday.
Paul, Joe Lupton, and Steve Silveira will begin their 8 week General
course on Tuesday.
* Bill presented the treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally. The club’s
liability insurance policy premium was paid, dues are still coming in.
Bill had held off obtaining the new projector and ended up with a better
deal. With classes starting again the new one has been ordered from Epson.
* Propagation Report by Jim, AI4WL: Solar activity was very low last
week compared with early January. More days without sunspots. Solar Flux
90 day trailing average has dropped. Still we’re finding good conditions
on 80 & 40M, fair on 20 & 15 and even some DX on 10M. Six meters has
been quiet.
* Mike, K4NLC, reported the Pamlico Emergency Net generated 12.6
man-hours from 4 sessions in Jan.
* Paul, K4MMB reported there were 145 visitors (most from the US)
during the month looking at 301 pages. The repeater list page and the
“What’s Happening” page continue to be the most popular.
* Bruce reported that the donated Icom 746Pro has been checked out and
will go into the new security office in the (PCC) evacuation center when
renovation of the building is finished, probably in the Fall. The
existing feedline will need to be replaced and rerouted to the new
station location. There was considerable discussion about obtaining a
new telephone pole for mounting the antenna closer to the equipment and
getting a second pole for a HF dipole. Bill suggested the new HF
capability would offer an opportunity to start a Radio Club at the
college. An advisor would be necessary but perhaps an adjunct
professorship might be the answer.
* Bruce also advised that a DMR repeater has been installed at the
Florence Whortonsville VFD. Perhaps members would be interested in this
new operating mode/technology.
* Bill reminded the group that our business meeting will be followed by
a presentation by Bob Heil, K9EID, of Heil Sound. Next month, Marv
Hoffman, WA4NC, our ARRL North Carolina Section Manager will be with us.
* There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 0942.
The next meeting will be on Saturday, February 27, via Zoom.
[Note: Bob Heil’s fascinating presentation and the Q&A that followed was
to be recorded and posted to the N4PRS.org web page.]
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 pm local. There are no numbered sunspot regions on
the Sun facing Earth this morning. On Sunday the observed Solar Flux
Index (SFI) at Penticton was 73. Solar activity is expected be very low
through Wednesday. The index is predicted to register 73 today and
Tuesday, 72 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is 84, a drop
of one from last Monday.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet to minor storm levels today and quiet to active Tuesday, then
quiet to unsettled on Wednesday. Solar wind is again the cause of the
storms and unsettled geomagnetic field. The estimated Kp-index of zero
reported at 7 a.m. local this morning indicates we are currently
experiencing quiet geomagnetic conditions.
For the next several days, we can expect fair daytime and good nighttime
operating conditions on 80 and 40 meters, fair on 30 and 20, and poor on
the higher bands. The VHF bands were quiet last week except for a few
intrepid hams looking for band multipliers during Winter Field Day. The
event brought out a surprising number of operators, mostly from their
warm home shacks. We kissed off the idea of operating from the picnic
table near the creek, the breezy 38 degrees on Saturday was a bit too
much. PARS players heard included Dick, K4JJW and Tom, KI4NSP. There
may have been others. Yours truly dusted off the little FT-817 as
planned. It was tough going fighting the QRM for contacts with about
three watts (one watt on 20M) but still great fun. We’re looking forward
to more fun in the North Carolina QSO party coming up late this month.
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.
**WANTED- ICOM IC-7700 Transceiver**
Wanted, late model with serial number starting with 1. Please contact
Don Smith, KJ4RB, at kj4rb@embarqmail.com or 252-568-4011. (20210125)
**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 now remaining on the list with prices originally paid
include a Yaesu FT2000/HF Transceiver $2,115 with Yaesu MD-100 Mic $179
and Yaesu external speaker with phone patch and an Ammeritron AL-811H
Amp $999. “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 of the remianing items or more
information please contact Eddie at ELyon47@aol.com or 540-905-5839.
(20201019, 20201102)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Feb 27, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
“Zoom”. Our guest speaker will be Marv Hoffman, WA4NC, ARRL North
Carolina Section Manager. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Mar 27, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
“Zoom”. 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
SO YOU’VE BEEN VACCINATED–BACK TO NORMAL?
No way say the experts; it’s still too early. The numbers have not
stopped rising in Pamlico County. While the vaccination will likely
protect almost all of us for perhaps a year, we still can carry the
virus and transmit it to others. For what to expect after getting your
shots go to:
https://mailchi.mp/4a92bc71051d/ive-been-vaccinated-can-i-go-back-to-normal-now?e=adb5dfd6c4
Please mask up in public and stay safe.
73, Jim AI4WL
——
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