PARS SILENT AUCTION THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 3RD
The long anticipated auction of donated amateur radio equipment is on
track for THIS Saturday, August 3rd. It will take place at the Oriental
Volunteer Fire Department, Station 19. This will be a silent auction.
All proceeds will go to the Pamlico Amateur Radio Society (PARS) or to
the Oriental Repeater Group (ORG). Doors will open at 9am for inspection
of and bidding on the many items available. Bidding will close at 11am,
winners announced soon after. The list of major equipment continues to
grow including transceivers, HT’s, amplifiers. Here’s a last sample of
the many items that will be up for bid:
— West Mountain Radio RIGrunner DC Outlet Panel RR/4005/C (New)
— Astron RS-12A linear power supply (no meter version)
— Palstar AT1KP Manual Tuner
For more information, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or
K4ONC@aol.com.
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) July 27, 2024 MEETING NOTES
* Nineteen members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am Saturday
breakfast meeting chaired by President Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, at
Brantley’s Village Restaurant. The group welcomed Ned Loveless, KK4TIK,
and Wayne Estabrook, KB1WE, to the meeting
* There were no upgrades or new licensees reported for the month. Dick
Goodwin, K4JJW, again worked ’em all in the annual 13 Colonies Special
Event. He did a clean sweep on 4 bands (mixed mode) plus 20 and 30 CW
for a total of 6!
* Bruce delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally. No
expenditures this month.
* AI4WL’s Propagation Report: Moderate solar activity, R1 blackouts
likely. A X14 flare on July 22nd on the far side of the sun still
affected Earth. Impact could have been much worse if Earth directed–
like the 1989 Quebec blackout. Ongoing DXpeditions include South Cook
and Lord Howe Islands. A new SuperFox mode was tested by the America
Samoa DXpedition. It uses more bandwidth but the Fox can work 9 stations
simultaneously and provides verification that it is not a pirate.
* Bill Schrader, K2TNO, is hosting a special Zoom session on how to
improve your DXing during the Solar Maximum. By an expert on radio
propagation, Frank Donovon, W3LPL, it will follow the August 21st
Wednesday night net. [Details will be in the next PARSgram].
* Eastern Express pico balloon: Lor, W3QA, confirmed she had not been
heard from since July 5th when over Germany and her whereabouts are
unknown. Could be her thin 36 ga. antenna wire broke and the tracker
transceiver lost. But then, she could still reappear… sometime,
somewhere.
* On behalf of Wayne, KO4OJC, Bruce advised that 17 checked in via
WinLink last Wednesday, 12 using the requested ICS-213 form. Expect to
practice other standard forms in future weeks. Kudos to Wayne for being
the NCS for June and July. Charlie, WA4GSI, will take it in August.
* Lor advised watching the Hurricane tracking sites as the season
progresses. Although the forecast is very tentative, a storm is possible
for our area during the early days in August.
* The next Pamlico Communications Team meeting will be on Saturday,
September 7th.
* The Silent Auction is set for 9-11am Saturday, August 3rd, at the
Oriental Station 19 firehouse. Starting bids/reserve will be bargain
priced, much less than listings on Ebay or elsewhere. Equipment
donors/holders should arrive between 7 and 9am with their equipment. All
need to avoid parking in front or on right side lot. After the 11am
announcement of highest bidders, winners should be prepared to pay by
check or cash and take their “winnings” with them.
* In a show and tell, Wayne Estabrooks, KB1WE, demonstrated his
pneumatic antenna launcher complete with pistol grip and electric trigger.
* Tripp Beasley, KI4KEB, had the winning number for a Brantleys Gift
Certificate; Dick, a PARS decal; and Hal Loveless, a PARS front license
plate.
* There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:05 am.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was high during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The largest solar event of the period
was a M9 event at 9:57pm yesterday. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be moderate today through Wednesday with a
slight chance for X-class flares. Radio blackouts at the R2 level are
likely. There are 10 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth
this morning. There were 12 last Monday, 12 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 214,
last Sunday’s was 198. The index is predicted to measure 210 today, 210
Tuesday and 200 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was 188
yesterday. It was 187 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to reach minor storm levels today, severe storm levels
Tuesday, major storm levels Wednesday. Why? The several M-class flares
over the weekend generated multiple CME’s that are now hurtling toward
Earth. The planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was 1.33 indicating
quiet conditions.
Today, propagation is expected to be poor to fair during the day, good
at night on 80 to 20; good on 17 and 15, and good day, poor night on 12
and 10M. Go to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest
observations.
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 ARRL’s ARLD027 DX news:
— South Cook Islands, E5, ZL2KE is QRV as E51KEE from Rarotonga until
Aug 2, 80-10M, SSB & CW.
— LORD HOWE ISLAND, VK9L. Jeff, W7BRS is QRV as VK2/W7BRS until August
- Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8.
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. Thanks, Jim.
–FOR SALE Kenwood Power Supply. This Kenwood KPS-15 Power Supply will
do 22 amps continuous and will run a 12 volt solid state 100 watt HF
transceiver. With original box and instructions. Input:100-130 Vac (220
Vac Internal Jumper), Output:13.8 Vdc, 25A Peak. Warranted for 1 year by
KB1WE. Replacement or Money Back Guarantee. Price $80.00 Contact Wayne
Estabrooks,KB1WE, at westabro@earthlink.net or at H (252) 833-4497, Cell
(919) 218-4012 (20240729)
–Astron Linear Power Supply RS-50 with digital volt and ammeter on
front panel. Some scratches on paint. Price$290. Contact Wayne
Estabrooks,KB1WE, at westabro@earthlink.net or at H (252) 833-4497, Cell
(919) 218-4012 (20240729)
–Pneumatic Launcher. Complete with detailed instructions, spinning
reel, extra projectiles and swivels. This device will put a fishing
line, 20 lb test over a tree 100 feet tall. Includes spinning reel. Air
pump or compressor not included. Eight available. Contact Wayne for more
details or photos. Price $197. ea. [Demonstrated at the July PARS
meeting–ed.] Contact Wayne Estabrooks,KB1WE, at westabro@earthlink.net
or at H (252) 833-4497, Cell (919) 218-4012 (20240729)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Aug 3, PARS SILENT AUCTION, Saturday, 9-11am, 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
* Aug 31, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Sep 7, 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
REPEATER/NODE STATUS
(See www.n4prs.org/frequencies/ for set-up)
N4ONC VHF FM Oriental — Operational
N4ONC (old KR4LO) UHF FM Oriental — Operational
NC4ES VHF FM/DMR Arapahoe — Operational. PL: ENC 88.5Hz/DEC 100Hz
NC4ES UHF DMR (NC4ES Network) Florence — Operational.
WM3X-ONC VHF C4FM/WIRES-X NODE Oriental (145.530 simplex)– Operational
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Mondays, “Pamlico 10 Meter Net, 7:30 pm local, on or near 28.464 MHz,
USB. A non-directed net for technicians and above. Radio
topics/questions/issues welcomed.
* Wednesdays,”Pamlico Communications Net”, 7:30 pm local, N4ONC
(Oriental) VHF Repeater, 147.210+ (CTSCC Tone Squelch 88.5). A directed
net open to all. Net activates on call during emergencies.
* 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, PARSwebman@gmail.com
73, Jim AI4WL Editor
——–
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