ADVANCE NOTICE: NO PARSGRAM ON MONDAY, 19 JANUARY 2015.
We’re taking the day off.
PAMLICO EMERGENCY NET (ARES) PRACTICE THIS WEDNESDAY, JAN 7, 2015
The Pamlico Emergency Net meets Wednesday nights at 7:30 pm
local time on the Oriental repeater (147.210 MHz, CTCSS/PL tone 151.4,
standard offset). Contact Mike Hurm, K4HPS, at 252-249-1122 or at
mhurm@aol.com for more information about the net and the Pamlico County
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) program.
SUGGESTIONS WANTED
PARS planners are still asking for ideas/suggestions for our
club meetings. What do you want to talk about, discuss, learn, or even
build? Let Bill or Randy know, put a comment on our N4PRS Web Site, or reply
to this PARSgram. Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
Thanks.
GENERAL CLASS LICENSE UPGRADE COURSE STARTS TONIGHT
It’s too late to get a book for the first session, but students can catch
up…
PARS’ amateur radio General Class upgrade course is scheduled for Monday
evenings beginning January 5 and ending March 2 with the exam to be held at
Pamlico Community College, 5049 Highway 306 South, Grantsboro, NC 28529.
THIS IS A CHANGE IN LOCATION. We will be using Room 412 in the Brinson
Building, the middle building of the complex. The classes will run
6:30-8:30 PM. Students do not need a Technician Class license to take the
course, but must pass the Technician Class exam before taking the
General Class exam. [They may do both at the same exam session.] The
course fee is $30.00, which includes the textbook, the ARRL General Class
License Manual, 7th edition. If you choose to obtain the textbook on your
own, the course fee is waived. The exam fee is $15.00. To register,
contact Bill Michne by phone (252-249-1175) or email
(billmichne@embarqmail.com).
THE DX CODE OF CONDUCT
As we start the New Year, it is a good time for a reminder on how we
should operate to work those DX stations on our most wanted list:
I will listen, and listen, and then listen again before calling. [This is
the only way to hear if the DX station is working split and where he is
listening for us.]
I will only call if I can copy the DX station properly.
I will not trust the DX cluster and will be sure of the DX station’s call
sign before calling. [It’s amazing how many yahoos connect with the DX
station and then ask for its call sign!]
I will not interfere with the DX station nor anyone calling and will never
tune up on the DX frequency or in the QSX slot.
I will wait for the DX station to end a contact before I call. [This problem
seems to be getting worse. Calling before the stations clear just adds to
the confusion.]
I will always send my full call sign. [Many DX stations no longer answer to
only a suffix.]
I will call and then listen for a reasonable interval. I will not call
continuously. [Another worsening problem. Rude hams just keep sending their
call over and over and over. And some of them yell!]
I will not transmit when the DX operator calls another call sign, not mine.
I will not transmit when the DX operator queries a call sign not like mine.
I will not transmit when the DX station requests geographic areas other than
mine. [It seems this relates to the problem of not listening.]
When the DX operator calls me, I will not repeat my call sign unless I think
he has copied it incorrectly.
I will be thankful if and when I do make a contact.
I will respect my fellow hams and conduct myself so as to earn their
respect.
[For more on the Code, go to www.dx-code.org. There is also guidance for
DXpeditions and DXstations. That information offers clues for us on how
best to get through to those DXstations.]
DX SURVEY RESULTS
(DX Magazine’s 2014 Most Wanted Countries Survey).
DX Magazine’s has published their Most Wanted Countries from a survey
that was conducted in September/October 2014 time frame. Here are the
“Top 20” in the overall World-Wide Results as per DX Magazine (Jan./Feb.
2015 issue):
2014 2013 2014 2013
Rank Prefix Country Rank Rank Prefix Country Rank
—————————————————————————–
1 P5 North Korea 1 11 BV9P Pratas Island 14
2 KP1 Navassa Island 2 12 E3 Eritrea 15
3 3Y/B Bouvet 3 13 FR/JE Juan de
Nova/Europa13
4 FT5W Crozet 4 14 CE0X San Felix 19
5 VK0/H Heard Island 6 15 KH3 Johnston Island 18
6 BS7H Scarborough 7 16 VP8/G South Georgia 17
7 VP8/S South Sandwich 9 17 KH1 Baker & Howland 25
8 FT5T Tromelin Island 10 18 KH7K Kure Island 20
9 KH5K Kingman Reef 12 19 ZS8 Marion Island 8
10 KH5 Palmyra 11 20 VK0/M Macqarie 22
The full list of the top 100 Most Wanted, World-Wide, will soon be posted
to the DX Publishing Web site at:
http://www.dxpub.net/MOST-WANTED-SURVEY.html
Courtesy of the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1196
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity has been moderate during the 24 hours
ending yesterday at 4 pm local. The largest solar event of the period was a
M1 event observed at 04/1536Z . There are currently 6 numbered sunspot
regions facing Earth on the disk. The sunspot count this morning is 124 up
from the 108 reported by NOAA last Monday. It was 159 the week before. The
Solar Flux Index is 150, up from the 133 in last week’s PARSgram. The
forecast takes it to 160 by Wednesday. According to the Space Weather
Prediction Center, solar activity is expected to be low through Wednesday
with a 50% chance for M-class flares and a 10% chance for X-class flares
during the period.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field activity reached minor storm levels during
the past 24 hours. Part of the cause for the stormy conditions is that the
Earth is entering a stream of solar wind flowing from a coronal hole in the
sun’s southern hemisphere.The geomagnetic field is expected to vary between
unsettled and active today and quiet to unsettled Tuesday and Wednesday. The
K-index was reported by NOAA to be a quiet 2 at 0700 local this morning.
Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected during the next 24
hours.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
TX5, AUSTRAL ISLANDS: Wayne, KK6BT, will activate Raivavae Island (IOTA
OC-AN114) in the Austral Islands group from January 5th through January
11th, 2015. His callsign will be TX5W from Raivavae Island (Enroute, he
plans to be on the air from Bora Bora from January 2nd through January 5th,
2015, using the callsign FO/KK6BT.) More details of this operation,
including a band plan, can be found at the DXpedition’s Web site:
http://www.TX5W.com All QSL requests should be directed to the TX5W’s QSL
Manager, KE8G (please see the Web site for important details).
QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event
Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
So quiet that we didn’t even hear a thud when the Croaker dropped!
So who worked last week’s challenge, 1A0C, the Sovereign Military Order of
Malta? For a very interesting short read on the Order, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta.
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 :
* UBA PSK63 Prefix Contest–Digital, from Jan 10, 1200Z to Jan 11, 1159Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RSQ and serial.
* Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon–CW, from Jan 10, 1200Z to Jan 11,
2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, SKCC member nr.
* DARC 10 Meter Contest–Phone,CW, from Jan 11, 0900Z to Jan 11, 1059Z.
Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: RS(T), serial, DOK code.
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.)
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
——————–
* FREE — Coax. Belden 8281 video cable (blue jacket), 78 ft piece; RG-59U
two pieces (yellow jacket). Pick up in Morehead City or New Bern, contact
Stephen Freeman, KK4JOP, 252-725-3845. (20141215)
* FOR SALE — WIRE ANTENNA — “Radioworks” Carolina Windom 40 — Specs
and installation requirements can be found on the Radioworks site. Total
length is 66 feet. This antenna is 4+ years old but was only in the air 1
year. Requires a tuner (or an older radio with real tuning knobs). Although
wire is weathered, the balun and matching unit are like new, and all
connections were kept sealed where required. Retails new for about
$140……..yours for $40 CASH, … no offers please. Picture available
on request. Located in Greenville, with free delivery to Oriental.
Contact Don Corley, WA4DX , at 252-916-7085. (20141208)
* 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.
Contact Jamie King KJ4JK at (252) 514-7497or kj4jk@arrl.net (20141006)
* FOR SALE/FREE– Last 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.
– Free, Two large paper format printers. With software and cables. Come
look and take.
– One HP3570 Scanner 8/12 X 10 inch, software and USB cable. $10.
– Dentron Super Tuner ( Rated very good tuner in QRZ) $145.
– Radial Arm Saw 14 inch blade. Made by Delta With a few blades. $250.
– Sorenson Power Regulating Transformer. 6 in x 6 in x 18 in long @ 75 lbs.
1000VA $20.
– Icom AH4 Antenna Tuner $250.
– Bird Power Meter Replacement Slug Socket and in-out connectors $65
– Xantrex True Charge Dual 20 Amps. With remote metering. $165.
– Xantrex 1500 Inverter. $98.
Contact Ed Valentine W2YPM at 252 637-3161 or
w2ypm@earthlink.net for information and pricing.
(20140602/20141222)
——————–
(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:
* 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:
* Jan 5 – Mar 2, PARS General Class License Preparation Course, Monday
evenings,6:30-8:30 PM, Room 412 in the Brinson Building,Pamlico Community
College, 5049 Highway 306 South, Grantsboro. TO REGISTER FOR THE COURSE
contact Bill Michne, WM3X, at 252-249-1175 or by email at
billmichne@embarqmail.com. DON’T WAIT to register, materials need to be
ordered!
* Jan 31, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
* Mar 2, 2015, Amateur Radio License Exam Session, Technician, General, and
Extra, Monday evening, time TBA. Room 412 in the Brinson Building, Pamlico
Community College, 5049 Highway 306 South, Grantsboro. For more information,
and TO REGISTER FOR THE EXAM, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, at 252-249-1175 or
by email at billmichne@embarqmail.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.
ABOUT THE PARSgram
The PARSgram is a weekly email publication for members of the Pamlico
Amateur Radio Society (PARS), an association of amateur radio operators
located in, near, or from Pamlico County, North Carolina. The PARSgram
contains announcements and information about current and planned activities
of the Society and other items of specific interest to its members. Except
to summarize information related to Solar Activity or announce expeditions
of amateur radio operators to unique distant places, special event stations,
and contests, it does not generally repeat information available elsewhere.
The PARSgram does offer a means to make known to its subscribers radio
equipment and other related items for sale or trade. Since PARS members may
have limited internet access, the PARSgram is sent in text format and kept
relatively short. We are always looking for items of specific interest to
our 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
at jth350@embarqmail.com. — Jim Hartmeyer, AI4WL, Editor (20121126)
Jim, AI4WL