FIELD DAY LOGS
Any PARS member who operated Field Day using their own call, and who
intends to submit their score for composite club score credit, is
requested to notify our club call trustee, WM3X, by email to
drmichne73@gmail.com. Bill will not submit a club log if there are no
participants.
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) JUN 24, 2023 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-nine PARS members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am
Saturday breakfast meeting chaired by President Mike Marsh, K4NLC, at
Brantley’s Village Restaurant. Mike reminded all that the twice
postponed Fox Hunt will follow this abbreviated business meeting.
* Awards and Upgrades: Dick Goodwin, K4JJW, worked all Colonies during
this year’s “Colonies on the Air” and after describing the event,
encouraged our members to consider doing it next year. Colony (state)
QSL cards differ each year as does the certificate.
* Mike delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally.
* AI4WL’s Propagation Report: After an active week, for Field Day the
forecast is for moderate solar activity and a 40% chance for M-class
flares. The sunspot number is up to 194. Best conditions will be at
night on 20-80 meters and will be very good day and night on the 15
meter band. Expect 6 meters to be open at least part of the day. As for
DXpeditions, look for Ducie Island ending today. Kwajalein is to be
active through June 30.
* Repeater update: Lor W3QA reported that work on the Kershaw repeater
should be finished shortly and then the group will look at the Arapahoe
crackling noise and “chugging” issues.
* Noting that year end elections are not that far off, Mike announced
he will not be standing for re-election. He encouraged our newer and
younger members to consider being a club officer. He then offered the
floor to Bill Michne, WM3X.
* Bill Michne, WM3X, has dug deep into the radio puzzle on Amelia
Earhart’s last flight in 1937 and has built a working replica of the
Western Electric transmitter on their Lockheed Electra. At the meeting
Bill offered an exciting presentation: “The Role of Radio in the
Disappearance of Amelia Earhart”. He detailed Earhart’s challenges, her
inadequate preparation and poor decisions and his research on why they
failed to establish radio communications or radiolocate the Coast Guard
Cutter Itasca stationed near their Howland Island destination. The
bottom line: she could transmit but not receive. His research supports
the conclusion that she was not lost at sea but landed well south of her
intended destination on tiny uninhabited Gardner Island. Her radio calls
for help were heard for days after her fuel would have run out and
physical evidence has been found there. Considerable conjecture remains
on what may have happened to Amelia and her navigator Fred Noonan after
their landing. There are some clues.
* Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI, drew the winning number for a Brantleys
Gift Certificate; Bill Cresswell, K2ONN, took home a “PARS Coaster”
crafted by Rick, NN2S, and Logan Schnider, NC4OM, a PARS sticker.
* There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:19 am.
FOX HUNT RESULTS
Our twice postponed Fox Hunt went on without a hitch on Saturday with
nine teams participating. The team of Lor Kutchins, Matt McMahon, and
Michael Karp was first to the fox in 20 minutes using sophisticated
radio geolocating equipment under test. Happy to find it worked as
designed, they declined the first place award.
–1st – Brian Shepard and Ron Kijowski – 30 minutes
–2nd – Wayne and Louise Beasley – 41 minutes
–3rd – Tripp and Kamryn Beasley – 47 minutes
Our thanks go to Dick Goodwin, K4JJW, for organizing the well received
hunt and to the culinary team of Mike Marsh, K4NLC, and Cody VanHook
KN4RFG for preparing lunch. Look for photos and the details on the
www.N4PRS.org web site soom. Based on a show of hands, there will be
another hunt in the Fall.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. There are 13 numbered sunspot regions
on the Sun facing Earth this morning. There were 7 last Monday, 7 the
Monday before. The Prediction Center expects solar activity to be low
today through Wednesday with a 40% chance for M-class flares and a 10%
chance for X-class flares.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 155.
Last Sunday’s was 164. The index is predicted to measure 150 today, 145
Tuesday and 145 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was 154
yesterday. It was 153 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field reached minor storm levels Sunday. Conditions are
expected to be quiet to unsettled today then quiet to active on Tuesday
and on Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 5 am this morning was 2.33
indicating quiet conditions.
For the next few days, HF conditions are expected to range from poor to
fair on 80 through 20 during the day, fair to good at night. The best
conditions during the day and night are likely to be found on the 17 and
15 meter bands. Twelve and 10 meters should be good during the day, poor
at night. Six meter openings should continue. For those of us in ENC,
they have mostly ended by mid afternoon.
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 TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARLD025 DX news:
–MALAWI, 7Q. K6ZO, W1IE, K4CD, and K4CUE are QRV as 7Q7WW until July
- Activity is in their spare time on the HF bands and 6 meters
using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8 in DXpedition mode. QSL via W0MAN.
–ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON, FP. Eric, KV1J will be QRV as FP/KV1J from
June 27 until July 11. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW,
SSB, and various digital modes, with a focus on 60 and 6 meters.
QSL to home call.
–MARIANA ISLANDS, KH0. Harry, JG7PSJ is QRV as WH0RU from
Saipan, IOTA OC-086, to 27 Jun. Activity is on 40 to
10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL direct to home call.
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
Send me your amateur radio related items that are for sale, trade, or
wanted and your contact information. 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.
FOUND: A magnetic mount 2 meter antenna… for our Croker Fest Tractor
entry in the parade. Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, 561-308-3456. Thanks to all
who responded!
FOR SALE
— d104 lollipop type-9volt-side key mic, found while exploring boxes of
equipment in my storage room, tested it, it works!…missing a screw or
two. $75.
— Icom IC 2300h 65w 2 meter mobile is out of production. It will be
replaced with IC 3500h with enhanced feature and price (+$50). Very few
2300s left. Contact Danny Lupton at idlupton@bizec.rr.com (20230515)
FOR SALE: Two complete restored vintage stations. Plug and play, ready
to go as illustrated on K4JJW’s QRZ.com page. It’s not getting enough
use and I’m selling everything as a single package at a very reasonable
$1400 price, way under going market prices. About 25 separate pieces of
gear, all cables, manuals, spare tubes, restoration notes, operating
desk. Everything operates as it should. Major gear…Johnson Ranger,
EICO-720, Drake 2B, ICOM R71A, Digital VFO, Timewave DSP, SDR/Uno SDR
receiver, About 15 additional accessory items, too much to list here.
Contact Dick Goodwin K4JJW at rgoodwin41@suddenlink.net or 252-633-7873
for a complete description and list via email. (20230417)
PARS CALENDAR:
* July-date to be determined, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING,
Saturday, 9-10:30am, Oriental VFD Station 19 on Straight Rd vic. NC-55.
All are welcome. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Jul 29, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
* Aug 26, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
REPEATER/NODE STATUS
(See www.n4prs.org/frequencies/ for set-up)
N4ONC VHF FM Oriental — Down for maint/upgrade.
KR4LO UHF FM Oriental — Operational
NC4ES VHF FM/DMR Arapahoe — Operational
NC4ES UHF DMR Florence — Operational
WM3X-ONC VHF WIRES-X NODE Oriental — Operational
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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