FOR THE 8 Jan 2025 WEDNESDAY NIGHT NET (PCN):
Please use the normal Winlink Net CHECK-IN form. Wayne, KO4OJC, will be
at the controls. Hopefully, your check-in will catch up with the
traveler. Questions? Contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or
K4ONC@aol.com
PCT HEARS ABOUT THE PAMLICO SWRT’S RESPONSE TO HURRICANE HELENE
Twenty-one members and guests were glad they did not miss last
Saturday’s Pamlico Communication Team (PCT) meeting. Gary Mitchelson,
N3CZ, member of the Pamlico County Swift Water Rescue Team and
Florence-Whortonsville Fire Chief, offered his first hand report on what
the team found at first light just after Hurricane Helene had devastated
Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. Gary talked through many photos, first about
the team–one of the few of its type in the State–and their assigned
mission, and then about the many challenges that they encountered. After
hacking, sawing, and pushing their way into the narrow canyon, they
found it to be more of a five day search, rescue and relief mission than
water rescue in the what used to be picturesque but now wiped out resort
community with a silt and debris filled lake.
The PCT, a sub-group of the Pamlico Amateur Radio Society interested in,
but not limited to, emergency communications, meets on the first
Saturday monthly at the Oriental Station 19 Fire Station, 182 Straight
Road. Topics are wide ranging, some technical, others not. Meetings
start at 9am. The February meeting will focus on Winlink set-up and
basic operation. All are welcome.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was high during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be moderate today through Wednesday. There’s a
chance for X-class flares today and Tuesday, less of a chance on
Wednesday. Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are expected.
There are 12 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 11 last Monday, 11 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 169,
last Sunday’s was 255. The index is predicted to measure 172 today, 165
Tuesday and 165 on Wednesday. The much more important SFI 90 day
trailing average was 201 yesterday. It was 207 last Sunday. Big drop.
The geomagnetic field reached active levels yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to reach minor storm levels today, be quiet to active Tuesday,
and then be unsettled at times Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 7
a.m. this morning was 2.67 indicating quiet conditions.
Give HF a listen. Work some DX. Now’s the time. Expect poor conditions
during the day on 80 to 40, fair to good at night; good day and night on
30 to 15; and good day, poor to fair night on 12 and 10M. Go to
https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD001 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–FRENCH POLYNESIA, FO. Hardy, DL7JLL is QRV as FO/DL7JLL from Mangareva
Island, IOTA OC-063, until January 15, 2025. Activity is on 20, 15, and
10 meters using SSB.
–MALDIVES, 8Q. Fabian, DF3XY and Xenia, DO4FX will be QRV as 8Q7XF and
8Q7FX, respectively, from January 5 to 13. Activity will be on 40, 30,
and 20 meters using FT8.
–TEMOTU PROVINCE, H40. Darren, VK4MAP is QRV as H40DA from Pigeon
Island, IOTA OC-065, until January 16. Activity is on 80, 40, 20, 15,
12, and 10 meters using SSB.
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 if your listing is no longer needed. Listings
will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise. Thanks, Jim.
–Send me something to sell or for you to give away.
PARS CALENDAR:
* JAN 25, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* FEB 1, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM (PCT) MEETING, Saturday, 9-10:30am,
Oriental VFD Station 19 on Straight Rd vic. NC-55. Bring your laptop for
Winlink basics. 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 WEBSITE: https://www.n4prs.org/
Our Web Master is Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, PARSwebman@gmail.com
73, Jim AI4WL Editor
——–
This email is sent to members and friends of the Pamlico Amateur Radio
Society. We are pleased that you asked to receive our weekly newsletter
and hope that you enjoy reading it. This and previous PARSgrams are
archived on the PARS Website. If you no longer wish to receive the
PARSgram please let us know by reply email or to pamlicoham@pamlico.net.