A HOT QUIET FIELD DAY ON THE NEUSE
In the downright hot and sultry weather this past weekend, PARS 2015 Field
Day activity was almost all in slow motion. With no one moving fast except
when seeking shade, activity was mostly social for the folks that spent some
time on the Neuse River site. Even the gulls were having trouble. One
dropped a nice young eel on the grass, unable to get it to a shady place to
enjoy. Only two hours in, the forecasted storm hit and operations were
halted. The halt came just a little early for the well attended annual
social and dinner at the Overcash’s just down the street. Although
propagation was expected to be poor, the group made a good number of
contacts with hams in the US, Canada even some DX stations demonstrating we
can work “off the grid”. As in the past, PARS’ low-key mostly daylight
operation emphasized the capability for providing emergency communications
when needed. A few observations:
o Operations were consolidated on a single lot facing the Neuse and across
the street at the Had residence. Dennis, W4USR loaned us his in-place
vertical for the weekend. Over the year, a number of the towers we used
in the past–the pines along the water– have been removed reducing our wire
antenna options. The vertical was a big help. The VHF beam was put up in
his front yard and away from the power lines that have caused noise problems
in the past. The two radios were operated protected from the rain in the
sunroom. Thanks Dennis!
o Our new Honda EU2000 generator worked like a charm, sipped gas, and was
very quiet. Randy K4WRD tended to it as if it was a newborn. Even more quiet
and economical was Mike Marsh’s solar power system.
o We had a first for PARS this Field Day. We were visited by our ARRL
Section Manager. Karl Bowman, W4CHX. He arrived during the storm and had
dinner with us after briefly visiting the site. Karl talked for a few
minutes about the state of amateur radio in North Carolina and the Amateur
Radio Parity Act. He appeared genuinely impressed with our club’s Field Day
effort. Karl was last heard on the repeater heading south for his final stop
for the day.
o Although the contacts have not been tallied, probably more CW contacts
were made than sideband this year. Fortunately, the expected Coronal Mass
Ejection never arrived. The noise coming out the speakers was mostly
atmospheric–lots of static crashes on Saturday. The Magic Band again was
fickle. There were very few stations heard and worked on 6 meters Saturday,
but we enjoyed a nice opening on Sunday morning. The operator in New Mexico
could not believe we were coming to him with less than five watts with our
QRP operation.
o Mike Hurm, K4HPS, demonstrated the PARS Amateur Radio Emergency System
(ARES) go-pack running it off the solar power set-up. Mike used it to
monitor the PARS Field Day talk-in frequency.
Our thanks go to lots of folks who made our PARS Field Day a success:
o Charlie WA4GSI and Sigrid for generously providing their home as a support
base again this year. It’s now five years in a row that they have done
this and PARS is grateful for what they do. With a view of sailboats on the
Neuse River and a nice breeze off the water that kept our bacon from frying,
it is a wonderful location.
o The plentiful Fried Chicken from Brantley’s was great and Wally and
husband Will baked a big batch of cookies for dessert! Charlie provided
bagels and coffee from The Bean for a Sunday continental breakfast. Thanks
to Greg KM4DZM for the cake and drinks and to Mike Hurm K4HPS who kept us
supplied with cold refreshing water.
o Greg KM4DZM for his PR efforts. Greg, when not operating the GOTA
station, Ellie KI4ELE and Tom Finta K8TF, along with Tom KI4NSP ran the
welcome table.
o President Bill Olah, KR4LO, was our GOTA guru again. He loves doing the
Get-On-The-Air Station and particularly, working with the young folks.
o As always, Glenn N4LV for his technical advise, assistance and, when
needed, fixes on the run to keep the HF rigs on the air.
o To all those who loaned equipment and antennas, especially Glenn, Tom
KI4NSP, and Bill Olah who provided their HF rigs. Mike Marsh for his solar
system that powered one of the HFstations and the ARES package.
o And our especial thanks go to those who donated their time and effort to
the cause, and of course, to Mike Marsh K4NLC, our Field Day Coordinator who
made it happen.
13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT THIS WEEK
(From the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1220)
Once again the annual “13 Colonies Special
Event” will take place between 1300z, June 30th and 0400z July 5th. The
theme for 2015 will be “Founders and Patriots of the Republic”. The certi-
ficate is printed on heavy card stock. Stations working one state or, as
many as all 13, will be eligible for the certificate. A “Clean Sweep”
indicator will be affixed, for those lucky enough to “Q” all 13. A special
endorsement will be attached for stations contacting their sister oper-
ation, WM3PEN, in Philadelphia, PA, where independence was declared. New
for 2015, the 13 Colonies have added a second sister event station GB13COL
will operate from Durham, England. The 13 Colonies certificate will have a
Liberty Bell added for a contact with WM3PEN. They will also offer a special
QSL card printed just for this event. There should be at least two stations
from each on the 13 colonies on the air, as well as Super contest stations,
multi-operator Club stations and OM and XYL teams. The U.S. original 13
colonies are CT-DE- GA-MA-MD-NC-NH-NJ-NY-PA-RI-SC-VA. Special events
stations mentioned are: K2A (NY), K2B (VA), K2C (RI), K2D (CT), K2E (DE),
K2F (MD), K2G (GA), K2H (MA), K2I (NJ), K2J (NC), K2K (NH), K2L (SC),
and K2M (PA). All HF bands will be in play except the WARC bands and
60 meters. 2 meters and 6 meter simplex are encouraged. All modes of
operation should be represented – SSB, CW, RTTY, Digital, and the Satel-
lites. The mode of operation is up to the individual colony state station.
For more details on the stations, suggested frequencies, QSL info and on
how to obtain the special certificate, see: http://www.13colonies.info
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 29/0029Z. There are 3 numbered sunspot regions on the disk
facing Earth. The sunspot count this morning is 39, down 40 from the 79
reported by NOAA a week ago at this time. The Solar Flux Index (SFI) is 97,
also well down from the 136 in our last PARSgram. The forecast shows the SFI
rising a little each day until Wednesday when it should be around 105.
According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, solar activity is expected
to be moderate today and then quiet through Wednesday. Chance of a M-class
flare is still there, but only one in 20.
Very active sunspot AR2371 has just disappeared from the face of the Sun.
This should bring a spell of renewed quiet. This is not necessarily a good
thing for lighting up the ionosphere and long distance radio propagation
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. The
geomagnetic field is expected again be quiet to unsettled today and then
quiet through Wednesday. The K-index was reported by NOAA to be a quiet 2 at
0800 local this morning.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
MARKET REEF, OJ0. Operators Peter, ON8VP, Mike, ON6QQ, and Ron,
ON5TQ will be QRV as OJ0V from June 28 to July 4. Activity will be
on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via ON5TC.
QSO QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event
Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Big surprise to work Portugal SSB with less than 5 watts as N4PRS from our
Field Day site in Oriental Saturday evening. The Magic Band never ceases to
amaze!
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 :
* 01/0000-01/2359Z Jul RAC Canada Day Contest CW
* 04/1100-05/1059Z DL-DX RTTY Contest Dig
* 04/1400-05/1400Z Marconi Memorial HF Contest CW
* 04/1500-05/1500Z Original QRP Contest CW
* 04/1700-04/2100Z FISTS Summer Slow Speed Sprint CW
* 05/1000-05/1400Z WAB 144 MHz Low Power Phone Ph
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
——————–
* FOR SALE — Yaesu FT 450 Transceiver, MD 100 desk mike and a Pyramid
35 amp power supply. All for $650 and can be seen in action at my QTH to
check it out. All you will need is an antenna to be on the air. Charlie
Overcash, WA4GSI, charlie@dockline.net or 252-249-1257. (20150601).
* 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.
For a Yaesu FT-2000 and other Yaesu transceivers:
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.
Heil Headset Pro Set Quiet Phone with HC-5 mic for $80.00, retailed for
$155.00.
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.
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)
Added items–
Palstar ZM30 digital antenna analyzer, $200.00
ICOM M1V VHF Handheld radio with HM-125 speaker microphone and a new BC-119N
desk top charger, $175.00
Aceco FC-6002 RF Tracer, $150.00
Contact Brian at k4lte2@centurylink.net or at his cell 252-670-5531.
(20150511, 20150518, 20150622)
* 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:
* Jul 25, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
* Aug 29, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
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