GENERAL CLASS LICENSE UPGRADE COURSE–
PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT
PARS will sponsor a General Class upgrade course beginning on January 5,
2015. The course will run for eight Monday evenings at the Sea Harbour
Yacht Club on Harbour Way in Oriental. The ninth session on March 2, 2015
will be an exam session, at which testing at all three levels, Technician,
General, and Extra will be available. There is no fee for the course, but a
text book is required, and there is a fee for the exam. For more
information, and TO REGISTER FOR THE COURSE AND/OR THE EXAM, contact Bill
Michne, WM3X, at 252-249-1175 or by email at billmichne@embarqmail.com.
DON’T WAIT to register, class space is limited!
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was moderate during the 24 hours
ending Sunday afternoon at 4 pm local. The largest solar event of the
period was a M2 event observed at 09/1532Z from Region 2205. There are
currently 4 numbered sunspot regions on the disk. The sunspot count this
morning is 78 down from the 91 reported by NOAA last Monday. The Solar Flux
Index is 132 up a few from the 124 in last week’s PARSgram. It is expected
to rise to 150 on Wednesday. According to the Space Weather Prediction
Center, solar activity should continue to be moderate with a chance for
X-class flares each day through Wednesday with an even greater (70%) chance
for M-class flares.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field activity was quiet to unsettled during
the 24 hour period ending yesterday afternoon. The geomagnetic field is
expected to be quiet to major storm levels today, reach minor storm levels
on Tuesday and quiet to unsettled on Wednesday. The K-index was reported by
NOAA to be a 5 (minor storm in progress) at 0700 local this morning.
According to Spaceweather.com, sunspot region AR2205 was mostly quiet
over the weekend, but it still poses a threat for potent eruptions. NOAA
forecasters estimate a 70% chance of M-class flares and a 30% chance of
X-flares on Nov. 10th. Any eruptions will likely be geoeffective as the
sunspot is directly facing Earth. Short radio blackouts reaching the R1
level are likely.
On Nov. 7th an X-flare from AR2205 hurled a CME into space. Although, it
was expected to miss Earth, it appears we are now experiencing at least a
glancing blow. As forecasted by NOAA this morning, geomagnetic storms are
occuring and are likely to reach the G2 level today.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
ST. LUCIA, J6. Gerd, DL7VOG is QRV as J6/DL7VOG until December 4.
Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using CW and RTTY. This includes
being active in the Worked All Europe RTTY DX contest and the
upcoming CQ World Wide CW contest. QSL to home call.
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, reports from QRP Land:
Back in May, as part of the CW and QRP class I was about to run, I started
working QRP using simple wire antennas. I was surprised at how readily I
could make contacts using 4 watts output at the transmitter. My longest DX
contacts so far have been Hawaii on 15 CW and Alaska on 17 SSB. I have also
worked into Europe and South America. I work a lot of contests because
usually the guy on the other end will try extra hard to dig you out of the
mud to make the contact. Results to date are 46 states and 10 countries on
3 continents. OK, it’s not as effective as kilowatts and beams (been there,
done that) but it’s a lot more satisfying each time I log a new one. –Bill
OK, who all got through the European and West Coast walls to work TROMELIN
ISLAND, FT4TA? FT4TA was very llght here in Whortonsville and worked split
with a big 15 to 20 KHz spread to deal with monsterous pile ups and
discourteous operators, it’s a wonder anyone in Pamlico County could make
the trip. N4LV did it on RTTY, N4ENE on phone, K4JJW on CW, anyone else?
Tromelin Isl. was number 8 on the Club Log most wanted list before the
expedition.
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 :
* ARRL November Sweepstakes–Phone, from Nov 15, 2100Z to Nov 17, 0300Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Serial, category, call, check, ARRL/RAC sec
* Russian WW Multi-Mode Contest–Phone,CW,Digital, from Nov 15, 1200Z to
Nov 16, 1159Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST and serial or 2-char
oblast code.
* All Austria 160 Meter Contest–CW, from Nov 15, 1600Z to Nov 16, 0700Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8. Exchange: RST, serial, OE district.
* Collegiate ARC Championship–Phone, from Nov 15, 2100Z to Nov 17, 0300Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: See ARRL Sweepstakes.
* ARS HF Contest–Phone,CW,Digital, from Nov 16, 0000Z to Nov 16, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T).
* Homebrew and Oldtime Contest–CW, from Nov 16, 1300Z to Nov 16, 1700Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-7. Exchange: RST, serial, and category.
* Run For the Bacon–CW, from Nov 17, 0200Z to Nov 17, 0400Z. Bands (MHz):
1.8-28. Monthly on 3rd Sunday night (local). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Flying
Pig nr or power.
See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the
ARRL Contest Update http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update/ and the
WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html>
for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the
ARRL Special Event Station Web page<http://www.arrl.org/special-events>. For
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.)
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS. W1AW Centennial Stations W1AW/7 in
Washington State, W1AW/0 in Kansas and W1AW/KH8 in American Samoa
are QRV until 2359z on November 11. In addition, W1AW/1 in Rhode
Island, W1AW/5 in Mississippi and W1AW/KH8 in American Samoa will be
QRV starting at 0000z on November 12. They will be active until
2359z on November 18.
(Courtesy of the ARRL DX Bulletin)
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
——————–
* FOR SALE–DRAKE R-8A communications receiver in like-new condition; no
cosmetic flaws, all knobs and meters intact, nesting spiders chased out.
Asking price $500. Comparable to those on Ebay advertised at $695.
HLA 300 Plus solid state HF linear amplifier; all bands 10-160,
automatic band selection and tuning, excellent condition. Asking price $500.
Comparable items available on the internet in lesser condition for sale at
$600-700.
Contact Jamie King KJ4JK at (252) 514-7497or kj4jk@arrl.net (20141006)
* FOR SALE– UPDATED LIST of remaining items from Jim Reynolds’ (W4YLO)
station–Jim Reynolds W4YLO is in a care center with late stages of
Parkinson’s disease. His wife would like to sell his shop tools and
equipment and gain back the garage. If you have any interest in these items
please call me, Ed Valentine, and set up a visit time to view them.
Three steel two door lab cabinets, 6ft.h x 3ft.w x 18 inches deep. $75.
each.
Sorenson Power regulating transformer. 6 in x 6 in x 18 in long @ 100
lbs.
Radial Arm Saw 14 inch blade. Delta
Parts of a 6 meter beam.
6 mtr cavity transmitter. $15
Dentron Super Tuner ( Rated very good tuner in QRZ)
MFJ 261 Dummy Load. 15 watts, 100 watts Peak. New $42 Sell for $20.
B&K Scope 30Mhz with 4 Tektronix Probes.. Make offer.
Logic probe for TTL & Cmos $5
Jim Reynolds equipment is clean and tested. Nonsmoking house.
Icom 756 Pro 2 transciever
Icom IC 7600 purchased new 3 years ago, little used.
Icom KW PW1 amp
Icom speakers and Power Supplies
Heil mic and desk boom. Icom Desk mic.
All manuals & cables & original boxes.
Icom Receiver IC-R70 with service manual. 100 Kc. to 30 Mhz. Like new.
$350
Icom AH4 Antenna Tuner
Xantrex True Charge Dual 20 Amps. Xantrex 1500 Inverter.
Steel work Table on wheels with compartments. 3ft. w x 5ft. long x 4ft.
high, Heavy.
HP Photosmart Scanner Printer HP8450 with Software & Cables
HP Scanner HP3570 with Software & Cables
Contact Ed Valentine W2YPM at 252 637-3161 or
w2ypm@earthlink.net for information and pricing.
(20140602/20140804/20140929/20141103/20141110)
——————–
(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 HAMFESTS:
* November 16: JARSFEST 2014, Johnston Amateur Radio Society, American
Legion Complex off US301N, Benson, NC,
http://www.jars.net
* February 7, 2015: Richmond Frostfest, Richmond Raceway Complex,
Richmond, VA, http://www.frostfest.com
* April 4, 2015: 43rd Annual RARSfest/North Carolina State Convention,
Raleigh Amateur Radio Society, State Fairgrounds,
Raleigh, NC, http://www.rars.org/rarsfest
PARS CALENDAR:
* Nov 29, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
* Dec 27, PARS Christmas Breakfast & Gift Exchange, 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. An informal forum originally established
to assist our new Hams, this freq. is in the 10M voice segment open to
technician licensees and above. Radio 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
think would interest our folks, please send it to me. Thanks.
73, Jim AI4WL