THE PERFECT CONTEST STATION
That is, if you have the big bucks. Sam/Dave, KD2T passed along this URL
for a video how-to. Something to watch during the rain today if you have an
hour or so to spare:
http://wwrof.org/webinar-archive/planning-your-contest-station-by-craig-thompson-k9ct/
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was low during the 24 hours ending
yesterday at 5 pm local. The largest recent solar event was a C2 flare
observed at 11/0411Z. There are 8 numbered sunspot regions on the disk
facing Earth. The sunspot count this morning is 134, double the 67
reported by NOAA last week. The Solar Flux Index (SFI) is 160, well up from
the 111 in our last PARSgram. The forecast shows the SFI staying about the
same through Wednesday. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center,
solar activity is expected to stay low through Wednesday with a 30 percent
chance for M-class flares each day. Extremely large sunspot region AR2339
directly facing Earth may break the quiet.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field reached active levels yesterday. The
geomagnetic field is expected again reach active levels today. It then will
become unsettled, perhaps reaching storm levels around the polar regions
Tuesday and Wednesday. The K-index was reported by NOAA to be a quiet 3 at
0800 local this morning.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
CYPRUS, 5B. Members of the Pafos Radio Club are QRV with special
call sign 5B70VE during May to commemorate the 70th anniversary of
Victory in Europe. QSL via operators’ instructions.
QSO QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event
Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Bill Michne WM3X mentioned the other day that he worked Road Island three
times CW QRP during the recent New England QSO Party. That normally would
not be a big deal for Bill. However, RI was the last state he needed for
Worked All States/QRP. With all contacts at 5 watts or less, that’s quite
the accomplishment. Congratulations Bill!
OTHER ACTIVITY ON THE RADIO:
This info is extracted from the ARRL Letter, from the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar, the ARRL Contest Update or the ARRL Contest Corral. You can
receive the Letter weekly via email as a member of ARRL :
* 16/0800Z May-16/1500Z Portuguese Navy Day
* 16/1200Z May-17/1200Z His Majesty King of Spain Contest
* 17/1000Z May-17/1400Z Worked All Britain-7 MHz Phone
See the ARRL Contest Branch page
ARRL Contest Update http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update/ and the
WA7BNM Contest Calendar
for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the
ARRL Special Event Station Web page
a LIST OF STATE QSO PARTIES, see
http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/stateparties.html. (State QSO parties
and the W1AW Centennial Stations are a great way to get those last states on
your Worked All States (WAS) Award list.)
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
——————–
* NEW FOR SALE–Hank Aaron WB4ROA, long time PARS member is moving. He is
selling much of his equipment. Brian Shepard K4LTE is handling the sale. The
list:
Elecraft K-3 Transceiver – Antenna tuner, 2nd Receiver, Digital voice
recorder, and Filters Main Receiver: 6K-8-pole, 2.7K-8-pole, and
400hz-8-pole. 2nd RX: 6K-8-pole, 2.7K-8-pole, and 400hz-8-pole.
Original Price: $4,000.00 Asking $2,500.00
Also available for the Elecraft K-3 Transceiver-LP-Pan adapter (spectrum
scope) for the K-3 for $100.00 and the Microham Micro Keyer II digital
interface with K-3 cables for $350.00.
Yaesu FT-2000 Transceiver for $1400.00
Also available with the Yaesu FT-2000, DMU-2000 for $500, / RF Mu-tuning kit
80/40m band for $300.00, and RF Mu-tuning kit 30/20m band for $300.00.
Command Technologies Commander Amplifier 2KW for $1500.00.
Yaesu-7800R 2M/70cm Transceiver for $150.00.
WaveNode WN-2 digital wattmeter w/sensors for $200.00, Retailed for $385.00.
Heil PR-40 Microphone for $200.00, it retailed for $325.00.
Heil Headset Pro Set Quiet Phone with HC-5 mic for $80.00, retailed for
$155.00.
Heil Microphone Boom PL-2T for $80.00, retailed for $120.00.
MXL Studio Condenser Microphone MXL-2003 for $100.00, retailed for $163.00.
Heil Hand Switch for $25.00.
Foot Switch for $20.00.
Array Solutions Six Pack ( remote antenna switch) 2 radios-6 antenna ports
per radio for $300.00, retailed for $450.00.
Array Solutions Rat Pack (remote antenna switch) 6 antenna positions for
$100.00, retailed for $250.00.
Astron SL-11 pwr supply for $50.00, retailed for $89.00.
Keyspan Tripp Lite 4-port RS-232 to USB adapter for $50.00, retailed for
$100.00.
Bengali (Sculpture) Keyer for $300.00.
Bencher Keyer for $150.00.
Plus lots of coax and cables-most coax uses N-connectors and were
professionally made by Cable X.
PL259 adapters for .50 cent ea. (28-total)
UHF Male Crimp (type PL259) connectors $2.00 ea. (37-total)
Type N Male crimp for RG8 $2.00 ea. (15-total)
PL259 Connectors $1.00 ea. (16-total)
PL259 UHF Male to female tee adapter connectors, $4.00 ea. (total-9)
BNC Male to UHF female connectors, $2.00 ea. (total-2)
Brian works full time so best to contact him by email at
k4lte2@centurylink.net (20150511)
* FOR SALE– MFJ-1796 1/2 wave vertical, 2-40 meters, except the 2 and
6 meter radiators have been misplaced. No guarantee they will be found. Does
come with manual and spare radiators. Has 2 QSOs to its credit. Includes a
couple 10 foot pipes for mounting. Assembled, and elements already trimmed.
SWR depends on location and height. $130, which is half the new price. The
price will come down until someone buys it.
Jim Scheer, W4NLD, Jim.scheer@gtri.gatech.edu, or cell or text at
253-876-3733 (20150420)
* FOR SALE — Shakespeare 5309-R VHF Antenna.Used.23 Feet.Two
piece.West Marine $599.00.Best reasonable offer.Ralph AC2GR 252-649-1212
(20150330)
* FOR SALE–[ Remaining major items from estate of Jim Reynolds,W4YLO.
Proceeds go directly to his widow, Peggy.]
ICOM PS-125 25 amp pwr supply. Orig. price $399
Price is $175.
ICOM PW1 High Frequency Linear Amplifier – HF/50 MHz All Band 1+kW
out. Automatic antenna tuner built-in. This was bought on Jan. 7,
2012,and has had little use. Has orig. box, manual, remote head and
cables. Original price $4,649.95 (cc invoice available).
Will sell for $3000 firm, – pickup in New Bern, can ship but buyer pays.
FOR INFO OR PIX contact Al, W8UT, email anchor@ec.rr.com
(20150330,20150413, 20150420)
——————–
(Send me your amateur radio related items for sale, trade, or wanted for
listing in the PARSgram. PLEASE let me know if your listing is no longer
needed. ITEMS listed will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear
otherwise.–Jim).
UPCOMING REGIONAL HAMFESTS:
A complete list can be found on your PARS Website, www.n4prs.org
PARS CALENDAR:
* May 30, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
* Jun 27-28, ARRL Field Day, Saturday, 2 pm – Sunday, 2 pm. Neuse Drive,
Oriental. Mike Marsh, 636-1257 or mike@marshconsulting.org
PARS NETS:
* Mondays, Pete’s “Swamp Talk” roundtable, around 8:15 pm local,
28.463 MHz plus or minus, USB. This is an informal forum originally
established to assist our new Hams. The frequency is in the 10M voice
segment open to technician licensees and above. Radio related
topics/questions/issues welcomed.
* Wednesdays, Pamlico Emergency Net Practice and Rag Chew, 7:30 pm,
Oriental Repeater, 147.210 + (PL151.4).
PARS WEB SITE:
https://www.n4prs.org/
Web Master is Larry Wall, KK4SEO, wallmailbox@yahoo.com.
PARSgram ITEMS
We are always looking for items of interest to PARS members to put in
the PARSgram. If you run across a timely item or think of something you
believe would interest our folks, please send it to me. Thanks.
Jim AI4WL