PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
By now the readers of this newsletter have probably heard the sad news
of the passing of Glenn Everest, N4LV, and read the wonderful write-up
by Jim, AI4WL. I would just like to summarize by saying that Glenn was
more than just a good ham, he was an asset to amateur radio in so many
ways, as well as an asset to the community at large, and perhaps most
importantly, an asset to his own family. Rest in peace, my friend, …_._
The latest edition of QST features a cover story on ham ingenuity. The
magazine makes a big deal about a short vertical built by stacking
coffee cans. Sorry, but I have to say that bit of ingenuity was first
presented in the 1950’s. An article appeared in one of the many radio
magazines at the time, describing how to build a 40 meter vertical using
stacked beer cans. I was about 15 years old at the time, and my high
school and ham buddy and I decided to build one. We modified the
formula for calculating the length of a 1/4 wave vertical in feet to
give a formula that would give the answer in beer cans. So the new
formula was 590/f (Mc) (remember, this was the 1950’s). For forty
meters, if f = 7.2 (we both had our General tickets) the stack is
approximately 82 cans, or roughly 13 six-packs. Since we were underage
(you had to be 18 back then) we enlisted the assistance of our dads in
securing the necessary materials. In addition we needed a one quart
beer bottle to serve as the base insulator. This turned out to be quite
a popular antenna at the time, and ours worked quite well. So our ever
helpful dads offered assistance in securing materials for a larger
version, say, 160 meters. So let’s see, 590/1.825 is 323 beer cans, or
about 54 six-packs. We converted that to 14 case equivalents to keep the
numbers down, but our moms could do math, too, and all those empty beer
cans had to be stored somewhere, and although we never measured it, a
160 meter beer can vertical is held together with a LOT of solder and
must weigh a ton, and… Needless to say, our moms prevailed, that
antenna never got built, and our dads switched to water until they lost
the weight they gained helping us with the 40 meter version. ._._. de
WM3X, Bill Michne,252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was very low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. There are three numbered sunspot
regions on the Sun facing Earth this morning. The Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be very low through Wednesday with a slight
chance for a C-class flare each day. Activity may increase on or even
before Wednesday. Spaceweather.com reports that NASA’s STEREO-A
spacecraft have monitored a number of active regions on the backside
that should rotate into view within the next 3 days or so. On Sunday the
observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 80. (Last Sunday it was
74.) The index is predicted to be 80 today and the increase to 85
Tuesday and Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is still 78.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. NOAA expects
conditions to be quiet today, tomorrow and Wednesday. The estimated
Kp-index of 3 reported at 5 a.m. local this morning reflects our current
quiet geomagnetic conditions.
We can expect poor daytime and fair nighttime operating conditions today
on 80 and 40 meters, fair on 30 and 20, and poor on the higher bands.
These expectations are not as good as last Monday but you can never
tell. We’ve seen significant activity on 15 and even 10 meters every
day. Six has also been active for some parts of each day for us here in
the Southeast with openings alternating between the Midwest and Europe
with at least some Es. This has been a good Summer season for those who
play in the Magic Band… and it isn’t over yet.
For an explanation of the 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 are 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.
* NEW For Sale. SCS PTC-IIex Modem licensed with PACTOR III. This modem
functions as it should and comes with the installation guide, the USB to
RS232 cable and the CD. This modem was recently in use on my IC-7300,
until I upgraded. In very good condition and works great. The 9095 cable
available from Farallon Electronics or HRO. $550. Bruce, K4ONC@aol.com,
252-626-2730 (20210719)
* For Sale by Danny Garris, WD4CQ, GarrisTV@hotmail.com or 252-670-9955
(20210628)
– ANYTONE 588UV III Tri-Band Mobile Transceiver (144/220/440) complete
with the USB programming cable. Brand-new – (In Original Box) $249.00
– COMET CX-333 Tri-Band Base Antenna (144/220/440) Brand-new – (In
Original Packaging) $159.00
– JETSTREAM 30 AMP Compact Power Supply 25 AMP Continous – JTPS32MAB
Brand-New – (In Original Packaging). Professionally Added Qty 2X
Mounting screws to top case for mobile bracket mounting. $94.00
PARS CALENDAR:
* Jul 31, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Aug 28, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
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
PARS YOUTUBE CHANNEL–N4PRS RADIO
Videos of recorded PARS Meetings, presentations, and club activities can
be viewed on on the N4PRS Radio YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpEMfxc7PQixT0rr5xEKtyQ
73, Jim AI4WL
——
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