PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM (PCT) APRIL MEETING
The April PCT meeting will be this coming Saturday, April 12th, at the
Oriental Station 19 Fire Station on Straight Road. The meeting will
focus on Digital Mobile Radio (DMR). Expect an introduction to DMR,
learn about firmware and codeplugs (Computer Programing Systems), talk
groups and zones, local and regional repeater networks. A DMR net on the
Arapahoe local talk group is being planned. Bring your charged up radio
as well as connecting cables if you need programming help. For more
info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) March 29, 2025 MEETING NOTES
* Thirty members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am Saturday
breakfast meeting at Brantley’s Village Restaurant chaired by President
Bruce Perkins, K4ONC.
* Bruce delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally. We are
holding at 55 paid memberships. [One member renewed and one person
joined at the meeting.-ed]
* AI4WL’s Propagation Report: Solar activity has been high for the past
several days and propagation extremely good. The six meter band has
shown signs of life. Dick K4JJW reported several days of TEP/F2
propagation into South America with contacts in Chile, Argentina,
Brazil, and the Falklands. For HF, the most reliable bands continue to
be the 15 and 17 meter bands. Upcoming DX includes Rodriguez Isl, Fiji,
and the Marshall Islands.
* Jim, AI4WL, reported that the Aurora DMR KE4TZN repeater is now
operational and connected to the PRN network. The repeater, just off of
NC306 and about 3 miles south of NC33, is reachable from all of Pamlico
County. Details are at www.ncprn.net. The network covers most, if not
all, of NC and SC.
* Paul, K4MMB, reported the n4prs web site is “healthy”. In the last 30
days there were 268 “looks”, half of them actual visitors.
* Bruce advised that Mike, K4NLC, will be the new PEN/PCN/ARES net
manager. He will be scheduling Wednesday night net controllers and
provide scripts, check-in lists and help. It’s easy, it’s fun and we
need to have every one able to run the net during an emergency.
* Bruce also noted the “growth of DMR”. The Arapahoe DMR repeater is
seeing increased use both from inside and outside the county, especially
now that it is connected to the EHPC/NC4ES network. The Carteret County
EMCOMM trailer is now DMR equipped. Expect to see a DMR net on the
Arapahoe local talk group soon.
* The next PCT meeting will be on Saturday, April 12th. Too many people
out of town on April 5th. The focus will be on DMR.
* The Spring EHPC COMMEX is coming up on Jun 17th. The twice-a-year
exercises have separate tracks for Health Care, Law Enforcement, EMS,
and amateur radio. The Ham track is for “regular hams” with tasks
related to obtaining and providing “ground truth” reports.
* In support of these exercises, an open house for hams will be held at
our Eastern Branch Regional Center in Kinston, May 13th, from 1000-1400.
It will include a tour of the center and several educational
presentations. Sign-up for both the tour and exercise can be done on the
Training, Exercise, Response Management (TERMS) web site,
https://terms.ncem.gov/TRS/ …”fun and learn”. There will more info at
the next PCT meeting.
* Lessons learned from Hurricane Helene are causing a significant
re-evaluation of and appreciation for the importance and use of amateur
radio according to Lor, W3QA. This will be reflected in the June COMMEX.
Pre-Helene, the AUXCOM role was solely a backup for 1st responders.
For Helene, AUXCOM operators were not immediately deployed… the need
not seen. But, for a variety of reasons, amateur radio filled gaps in
1st responder communications… the Mt. Mitchell repeater remained
operational and heard over great distances. A net was established over
the repeater with an experienced net control operator. Hams in isolated
areas were eyes on the ground and called for/relayed calls for help and
support. Lives were saved. A formal liaison between the State and real
world took two weeks. It was realized that all emergencies are local,
county emergency managers responsible. Some county emergency managers
were found lacking and totally unprepared. Ground truth reports from
eyes on the ground were vital.
* Bruce again encouraged participation on the Tar Hill Net, 3923KHz,
1930 hours nightly. Check-in is by call sign suffix. It was used
extensively during Hurricane Helene.
* Ralph Azersky, AC2GR, took home a Bionic Shield; Jeffery Cuniff, had
the winning number for a Brantleys Gift Certificate.
* There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:21am.
BIT BUCKET
* Congratulations go to our newest Ham, Louise Beasley. “Ms Weezie”
passed her exam at the RARSFest in Raleigh Saturday. The radios at the
Beasley’s will never have time to cool down!
* The Aurora DMR repeater is now connected to the PRN system. All PRN
talk groups are supported. “PRN” is the calling talk group, “Local”,
“Chat 1” and “Chat 2” are available for extended calls. “Local” calls
are non-network and stay on the Aurora repeater. See https://ncprn.net/
for list of networked repeaters and set-up details.
* Check-ins for the Pamlico Communications/Emergency Net last
Wednesday, April 2: WinLink 12, Regular 17.
* Scheduled PCN controllers should check with Mike, K4NLC, for the new
WinLink password.
SO WHERE ARE THEY NOW? THE GREAT EASTERN BALLOON ‘ROUND-ABOUT CONTINUES
As of Sunday evening, two of the balloons are not making much noise,
actually none. When last heard the WU2V balloon was on it’s second lap
and between the Hawaiian Islands and California. That was on Friday, 1pm
our time and that was the only report since Tuesday, the 2nd, at 10pm.
And the Greenville balloon, NC4ES, now on it’s 5th lap, had taken a
northern route and was between Greenland and Svalbard. It was last
reported there on Saturday just before 11am our time.
The N4PRS balloon is also being quiet but understandably so. At 9:38am
today, Sunday, on lap number six it was halfway across Turkmenistan–get
your map out–and far from the few stations likely to receive its 20
milliwatt signal. BTW, N4PRS lapped NC4ES earlier this week and
remember, they were launched within five minutes of each other.
So this morning, two balloons have reported in, it’s still nighttime for
the other. The Greenville balloon had caught the south blowing stream,
glided over Murmansk, and at 6:18am EDT was well into Eastern Russia;
the Pamlico balloon at 6:38am was over Eastern China headed southeast
toward Nepal.
Get updates from Matt, WU2V/Chief Balloonist, and the links for tracking
the balloons at:
https://easternhpc.com/nc4es-pico-balloon-information-page/ and on his
EHPC Facebook page.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be moderate today through Wednesday with a
slight chance for an X-class flare, much better chance (55%) for M-class
flares. Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are likely.
There are 9 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 6 last Monday, 8 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 167,
last Sunday’s was 171. The index is predicted to measure 165 today, 160
Tuesday and 150 on Wednesday. The much more important SFI 90 day
trailing average was 178 yesterday. It was 180 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field reached minor storm levels yesterday. The SWPC
expects the field to be quiet to active today and Tuesday and quiet to
unsettled Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was
2.00 indicating quiet conditions.
Expect good conditions for the next several days. Look for poor
conditions during the day on 80 to 40, good at night; good day and night
on 30 to 15; and good day, poor at night on 12 and 10M. Best on 15 and
17. The six meter band continues to show activity as the summer season
gets started. Go to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest
observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD014 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–FRENCH POLYNESIA, FO. Haru, JA1XGI will be QRV as TX7XG from Fakarava
Island, IOTA OC-066, from April 9 to 16. Activity will be on 40 to 6
meters using CW, some SSB, RTTY, FT8, and FT4.
–OGASAWARA, JD1. Koji, JI1LET and Takeshi, JA1UII will be QRV as JD1BOI
and JD1BON, respectively, from Chichijima, IOTA AS-031, from April 8 to
17. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4.
–UK SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS, ZC. Dave, G4WXJ will be QRV as
ZC4RH from April 6 to 11. Activity will be on the HF bands using SSB,
FT8, and FT4 with low power. QSL via LoTW.
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.
–FOR SALE: SB 200 Amplifier by Heathkit. In very good working order
with two extra brand new tubes. Reliable 500-600 watts and can be pushed
for more. $400. Charlie WA4GSI, 919 210-5168. (20250310)
–FOR SALE: Kenwood TS-50 hf transceiver 80 thru 10, 100 watt with
external kenwood tuner $400. Contact Bob, WA2FIS, at 732-533-8387.
(20250113)
PARS CALENDAR:
* APR 12, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM (PCT) 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
* APR 26, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. 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 (147.210MHz+ CTCSS 88.5Hz) — Operational
N4ONC (old KR4LO) UHF FM Oriental — Down for repair/replacement.
NC4ES VHF DMR Arapahoe (NC4ES Network) (147.285MHz+ CC1) — Operational
NC4ES VHF FM Arapahoe (147.285MHz+CTCSS ENC 88.5Hz/DEC 100Hz)–Standby
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
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