PARS WEBSITE — A QUICK SURVEY
Larry, our Webmaster, has put a very short 6 question multiple choice
questionnaire on line to help improve our PARS website. It will take less
than a minute to complete. Please take that minute after you read this
PARSgram to provide your input. Thanks. Here’s the link:
https://kwiksurveys.com/app/rendersurvey.asp?sid=u8bazgyn82i8ws7498951&refer=
CLUB HANDHELD AVAILABLE FOR LOAN
For new PARS hams or those awaiting repair of their HT, the club has a dual
band Icom handheld available for short term loan. It is pre-programmed for
the local repeaters. For more info or to pick up near Janerio (Arapahoe),
contact Tom Corwin, KI4NSP, at 249-1590.
VHF/UHF SPRING SPRINTS START NEXT MONDAY
The annual series starts next Monday, 7-11 pm local
time. This is the first of several Spring Sprints for VHF/UHF “weak signal”
fans.These sprints run for only four hours one night during the next several
weeks on the various VHF and UHF bands. April 13 is the night for the 2
Meter band and most folks will be using USB or CW on or near the calling
frequency of 144.200 Mhz. You can also use FM on the simplex frequencies.
Repeater use is not allowed. If conditions are good, it is possible to work
stations all up and down the east coast. If not, New Bern may be as far as
we can go. The object is to work as many amateur stations in as many 2
degree by 1 degree grid squares as possible so you need to look up your grid
square. If you gave your “plus four” zip code when you applied for your
license, the grid square assigned in QRZ.com (details) is probably accurate.
You should give your complete 6 digit grid square, e.g., FM15qc, as
part of the exchange. Complete details can be found at
https://sites.google.com/site/springvhfupsprints/2015-information.
The 6 Meter Sprint will be Saturday evening, May 9th, 7-11pm.
Tropospheric E-layer skip propagation is more likely then.
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 C1 event
observed this morning at 06/0550Z. There are 4 numbered sunspot regions on
the disk facing Earth, none active. The sunspot count this morning is 66,
down from the 73 reported by NOAA last week. The Solar Flux Index (SFI)
is 122, also down from the 145 in our last PARSgram. The forecast shows the
SFI dropping to 120 today but then rising slightly to 125 on Tuesday and
Wednesday. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, solar activity
is expected to be low with a 1 in 10 chance for M-class flares each day
through Wednesday.
NOAA reports the SFI 90 day trailing average is now 131. The downward
trend continues.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to unsettled yesterday.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled today and quiet
to active on Tuesday and Wednesday. The K-index was
reported by NOAA to be a quiet 1 at 0800 local this morning.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
CHATHAM ISLAND, ZL7. John, ZL1BYZ, David, ZL1DK and John, ZL1ALZ
are QRV as ZL7E from Kaingaroa, IOTA OC-038, until April 15.
Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY with two
stations active. QSL via ZL1ALZ.
QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event
Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Deathly silence. No reports.
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 :
* Apr 11, 0700Z – Apr 12, 1300Z, Japan International DX Contest
* Apr 11, 1200Z – Apr 12, 2359Z, Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon
* Apr 11, 1400Z – Apr 12, 0200Z, New Mexico QSO Party
* Apr 11, 1800Z – See website, Georgia QSO Party
* Apr 11, 2100Z – Apr 12, 2100Z, Yuri Gagarin DX Contest
* Apr 12, 1200Z – Apr 12, 1800Z, International Vintage Contest
* Apr 13, 7 PM – Apr 13, 11 PM, VHF Spring Sprints (144MHz)
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 LISTING, 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 (These items were to be taken to the RARSFest on 4/4/15. Email
Al to check on availability)
Jim Reynolds, W4YLO, became an SK 2 wks ago. Proceeds from sales of
these items go directly to his widow, Peggy.
The following 3 items were bought new by Jim in July, 2011, cc of
invoice available. They received little use before he was “enrolled” in
a nursing home about a yr ago. Exc. for the AH-4, I (W8UT) have checked
all of these out in operation.
Icom IC-7600 HF/6M transceiver in Excellent shape in the original box
with the Original manual, schematics, desk microphone, and power cord.
Built-in high-speed automatic antenna tuner. Face and cabinet are in
excellent shape. Orig. price $3,599.99, bought 7/13/2011. Priced at $2600,
or $2750 with the PS-126. Add $150 if AH-4 wanted also.
ICOM PS-126 25 amp pwr supply. Orig. price $399.99, bought 7/13/2011.
Price is $200, only if not sold with the 7600.
ICOM AH-4 long wire Antenna Tuner with cables. Unit was rarely used and
mounted indoors only. Great condition. Orig. price $319.99, bought 7/13/2011
Sell at $175, only if not sold with the 7600
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 $3500
FOR INFO OR PIX contact Al, W8UT, email anchor@ec.rr.com (20150330)
* FOR SALE — Lightly used Ameritron AL-811H in good working order.
Output power is 800 Watts PEP, 600 Watts CW. It uses four rugged, fully
neutralized low cost 811A PA tubes. A backup set of four tubes is included
with the amplifier. The dimensions are 8 ¼” x 13 ¾” x 15 ½”. The operating
weight is 32 lbs. I am the second purchaser/owner of this amplifier. The
first owner is an active PARS member. This Amplifier has the factory
modification for operation on 10 meters. A copy of the manual is included.
Asking $550. Contact Bill Cresswell, K2ONN at 252-249-0148. (20150126)
* 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. (20150126).
——————–
(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:
Catawba Valley Hamfest- April 18 2015
Location: Morganton, NC
Website: http://cvhamfest.com
.
A complete list can be found on your PARS Website, www.n4prs.org
PARS CALENDAR:
* Apr 25, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
* 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. Since this is an informal forum originally
established to assist our new Hams, this frequency 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. Log on to the PARS Website at https://www.n4prs.org/ for
longer news articles, photos, archived PARSgrams and more. 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 (20150406)
Jim, AI4WL