PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Don’t forget the PARS monthly meeting this Saturday, February 27, at
9:00 AM via ZOOM. As we did last month we will have our regular
business meeting first. Then, at 10:00 our guest speaker will be Marv
Hoffman, WA4NC, ARRL North Carolina Section Manager. Marv is a wealth
of knowledge on amateur radio and ARRL/FCC administrative topics, so
come prepared with your questions. _…_ Speaking of ARRL, a number of
years ago they had a dues structure that included a senior discount.
With the fall off in the numbers of young new members and the advancing
age of the older members the senior discount was probably becoming a
losing proposition, and ARRL canceled the program. I suspect the
situation has not improved, and ARRL once again is eyeing the senior
members as a source of new revenue. Enter the new Life 70+ Membership
class. If you are over 70 and have 25 years of ARRL regular paid
membership you qualify for this prestigious rank. Just fill out your
application and submit it along with your proof of age, and check for
$750, and you will most likely be approved. Is this a good deal? You
decide. At the current regular annual dues rate of $49 your $750
membership has you break even in 15 years, or at age 85 if you buy in at
- But, according to the Social Security Actuarial Tables the current
US male life expectancy is 78.5 years. So, if you make it to age 70,
you have only a 48% chance of breaking even. That’s the best case
scenario. In my case, being somewhat north of 70, I have only an 18%
chance of breaking even. And if I make it that far I’ll probably be
selling off my radio equipment to pay for my prescription drugs. So
I’ll pass (no pun intended). …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne,
252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com
PARS MEETING SATURDAY, FEB 27, 2021
**** 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 PARS Monthly Meeting:
Topic: PARS Monthly Meeting
Time: FEB 27, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://cravenk12.zoom.us/j/96038396148
Meeting ID: Contact jth350@embarqmail.com for Meeting ID info.
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.
Agenda:
0900 PARS Monthly Business Meeting
1000 Presentation by our special visitor, Marv Hoffman, WA4NC, ARRL NC
Section Manager
If you have questions regarding “Zoom” that you can’t resolve, please
email Steve at rastoban@gmail.com.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 pm local. There is one numbered sunspot region on
the Sun facing Earth this morning. It is decaying but there is another
beginning to appear nearby. Solar activity is expected be very low
through Wednesday. On Sunday the observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at
Penticton was 75–better than the 73 of last Sunday. The index is
predicted to register 75 today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The SFI 90 day
trailing average is down to 81.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. It is
expected to be quiet to unsettled today then quiet to active Tuesday and
Wednesday. Friday’s coronal mass ejection (CME) is expected to brush by
the Earth tomorrow or Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 3 reported
at 4 a.m. local this morning indicates we are currently experiencing
quiet geomagnetic conditions.
For the next several days, we can expect poor daytime and fair nighttime
operating conditions on 80 and 40 meters, fair on 30 and 20, and poor on
the higher bands. Seems like we are going in the wrong direction. That
said, although nothing has been heard on 6 or 2m, there has been life on
10, 15 and the lower HF bands. 40M FT8 has been chock-a-block full
almost around the clock and folks are doing some PSK on 40 and 20. The
forecast is for a little better prop for our end of the month NC QSO
Party come Sunday. A good time for yours truly to exercise the little
generator and make a few QRP contacts.
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**
Tarheel 75A HF mobile antenna combo. Includes Tarheel 6′ Stainless Steel
Whip, Whip Quick Twist Disconnect, Plus these unused original parts:
Control Cable, Manual Switch, Fuseholder & Fuse, Original box and
Manual. $350. Contact Gary Mitchelson, NC3Z/4, nc3z.gary@gmail.com or
252-745-0655.
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
COVID-19 FAQ ANSWERS FOR PAMLICO COUNTY
Our Pamlico County COVID-19 Task Force has put together answers to their
most frequently asked questions about the virus in our county and how to
get vaccinated against it. It is complete and it is long. See it at:
https://www.cctaskforce.org/index.php/faqs
Please mask up in public and stay safe.
73, Jim AI4WL
——
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