AND A GREAT FOX HUNT IT WAS
On Saturday, over 20 folks got together and at least 9 hunters/teams
went after the fox. Hidden, but in plain sight, it was found alive to
run another day. Reportedly, it took the first place team five minutes
of waving their 2 1/2 element yagi in the driveway before realizing they
had found the fox… The second place finisher’s high-tech direction
finding array failed. Luckily he had a traditional yagi as back-up…
And there was a foot-race between two hunters to check-in. The lady won
that race… Our congratulations go to Chief Foxer, Dick Goodwin, K4JJW,
for a most well planned and executed event. Kudos also go to Bill Olah
KR4LO, our fox caretaker, and to Bruce K4ONC and Mike K4NLC for handling
lots of the logistics, coordination, and cooking up some fine Hamburgers
for the hungry hunters after they returned. We even had a Special Event
Station active while the hunt was underway. Quite a day! For the
results, photos, and more please look at our PARS web page later this
week. Hard to keep caged, expect the fox to be on the run again soon.
PARS HOLIDAY BREAKFAST MEETING AND “GIFT” EXCHANGE THIS MONTH
For our final gathering of the year the business agenda will be short.
The “program” that follows will be our annual exchange of small gifts.
These presents should be related to ham radio in some way. Put your
imagination to work. Check out your junk box, look around your shack for
stuff that works but you no longer need. See what you can find, then
wrap it and bring it to the meeting. If you buy something, please don’t
spend much more than ten bucks or so. Exchange your gift for a number.
After your number is called, go through the pile of gifts and pick one .
Open it to oohs and aahs as others await their turn. If you already
have a widget like the one you unwrapped, swap it for something else.
It’s fun! See you at the meeting on Saturday, December 31st, (yes, it’s
New Years Eve morning) at 9 am, in the back room of Brantley’s Village
Restaurant in Oriental. This a family affair. Spouses and kids are
invited to join us for breakfast and the fun. Of course, there is no
need for them to bring a gift to exchange. And if you forget a “gift”,
not to worry, come anyway, eat and watch the show.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. There are 5 numbered sunspot regions
on the Sun facing Earth this morning. There were 4 last Monday. The
Prediction Center expects solar activity to be low today through
Wednesday. However, with two very active sunspot regions coming into
view, M-class flares are possible, even likely.
At the noon reading yesterday, the observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at
Penticton was 144. Last Sunday it was 107. The index is predicted to
measure 145 today, 145 tomorrow and 143 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day
trailing average was 131 yesterday, the same as last Sunday.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. It is
expected to be quiet to unsettled today, quiet tomorrow, then unsettled
to active on Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 1.67 reported at 7
a.m. local this morning indicated quiet geomagnetic conditions.
For today, we can expect fair to good operating conditions on the HF
bands 80 through 20, fair on 17 and 15, and poor on 12 and 10 meters.
Checking propagation this morning- 3139 Miles per watt
VK7OO 10,047 Miles @ 3.2 Watts -16db FT8 on 20M at 1220Z using a QDX SDR
XVR.
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.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARLD048 DX news:
SOLOMON ISLANDS, H4. Remo, HB9SHD will be QRV as H44SHD from Uepi
Island, IOTA OC-149, from December 6 to 19. Activity will be on 40
to 6 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL to home call.
WILLIS ISLAND, VK9W. Sands, VU2WXW is QRV as VK9WX while working at
the Meteorology Weather Station here until the end of April, 2023.
Activity of late has been on 20 meters using SSB around 1300 to
1400z. QSL via operator’s instructions.
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.
Free. From Fred Rampey, KE0PZA, S/Y Magnolia: I am about to recycle a
large quantity of electronic gear that was partially damaged by a
lightning strike on my boat early this year. It includes some
still-current Raymarine stuff – Autopilot headend and actuator
controller/course computer, a C95 chart plotter w gps, AIS antenna mux,
2 Standard Horizon Marine VHFs (one works except for NMEA 0183
interface), an Icom 718 HF rig w AH-4 tuner (it powers up but has no rf
output power), and a 60 amp Outback solar charger. All of this is
partially damaged, most is not totally dead. Lots of good parts in there
though… Just thought I would check with the club before disposing of
all of this at the recycling center, in case there are any serious
DIY’ers in need of parts. Contact Fred at 970-481-1753 or
frampey@yahoo.com. (20221128)
And from Danny Lupton, Greater Stonewall: I have an old Civil Defense
low band 30-50mhz base radio, a mobile, and a handheld. It is all huge.
Also, a 150mhz base unit General Electric (crystal type of course). Etc.
etc. etc. If you know of anyone who might want to have a project piece,
to toy with. The price be so very close to free.—OLD SCHOOL. Contact
Danny at 252-745-5655 or 514-5199, ldlupton@bizec.rr.com. (20221128)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Dec 31, PARS MONTHLY MEETING and Annual Christmas Gift Exchange,
Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. For more info,
contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC, 252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
* Jan 28, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Wednesdays,”Pamlico Communications Net”, 7:30 pm local, N4ONC
(Oriental) Repeater, 147.210 + (CTSCC Tone Squelch 88.5).
* 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
73, Jim AI4WL
——–
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