PAMLICO EMERGENCY NET (ARES) SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST (SET)
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).
Mike Hurm K4HPS, our Pamlico County ARES EC, advises the annual Simulated
Emergency Test (SET) will be on Jun 1 at 7:30 pm local time. On the first
day of the official hurricane season, this will be in place of the weekly
practice. As in the past , it is planned to place control at the Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) in the Court House Annex.
The first part of the SET will be conducted from there using the Oriental
Repeater. If available, part 2 of the SET will be conducted
from the Pamlico Community College (PCC) and will use the Grantsboro
repeater (145.230 MHz, PL 85.4). Part 3, will use the Simplex mode. Net
members should make sure that they have programmed BOTH repeaters and the
simplex frequency of 146.55 MHz in their radios’ memory. For more info
contact Mike at 249-1122 or mhurm@aol.com.
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) May 28, 2016 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-nine PARS members and guests attended the breakfast meeting
chaired by President Bill Olay, KR4LO.
* Bill presented the treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally Wallace, KK4ASP.
Updated club rosters were provided.
* Mike Hurm, K4HPS, our Pamlico County ARES EC, reported 3 Pamlico
Emergency Nets in May for 5.42 man-hours. He noted that the annual Hurricane
Center Station Test started at 9am this morning and runs until 5pm. A
Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is scheduled for Wednesday night in place of
the regular Pamlico Emergency Net practice. It will focus on simplex
operation on 146.55 MHz after a net call on the Oriental repeater.
* According to AI4WL, we are finally seeing more 6 Meter E Skip openings
from Pamlico County. Single hop distances of 700 to 1100 miles were
obtained into the Midwest last Tuesday morning. Locally, the NC 6 Meter
net on Saturday mornings is still being called at 7am-8:30 Eastern on 50.200
MHz. local by the NCS in Zebulon. This net has been a regular on Saturdays
for over 15 years.
* Bill, WM3X, representing an ad-hoc planning group, proposed a low key
approach for PARS members to participate in this year’s Field Day Avoiding
the challenges of set up and operation under hot, humid and often stormy
weather conditions, members can operate one or more “host” stations at times
convenient to them. They will have an opportunity to learn about and
operate a variety of equipment in modes of their choosing. Stations will
have SSB, RTTY, CW, and digital capability, at least one will also focus on
the VHF bands when they are open. The approach was well received. Charlie
Overcash suggested PARS continue the annual Field Day dinner. More
information will be in the June PARSgrams.
* In discussion, Bill Olah determined there was interest in another Fox
Hunt. Randy Davis offered to look at a 2 stage Hunt with strong and weak
signal foxes.
* After the business meeting, Bill opened a roundtable discussion on
antennas. Bill Michne described his “new” 43′ vertical, Bill Olah his
horizontal loop, Gary N3CZ his “T Top Vertical”. Pros and cons of various
kinds of wire for radiators and radials were raised.
FIELD DAY 2016
ARRL Field Day is coming the weekend of June 25 and 26. After considering
the amount of effort that goes into setting up our classical field day
operation, several of our members concluded that we wouldn’t have enough
operators to justify it. So, sadly, PARS will not have a by the Neuse Field
Day operation this year.
Instead, a few of our members have volunteered to open their stations to
host guest operators, just as we did for the North Carolina QSO party. This
is an opportunity for our members, and even ham radio wannabes, to operate a
working amateur station for an hour or two, more or less, with the
assistance of an experienced operator at their side!
Field Day is a relaxed fun event during which hams try to contact as many US
and Canadian stations as they can. As a guest operator you may even, if you
wish, use your own call sign (within the limits of your license), keeping
and submitting your own log. You can visit more than one host station to
try different radios, antennas, and modes. Single sideband? Plenty of
that. FM? Sure. Digital? Lots of PSK31 and maybe even some RTTY. Morse
code? There will be some slow speed operators and all will slow down for
you if you ask. And your host can help you with the copy. You can even try
making QRP contacts. Even experienced operators can be guest operators to
try out new stuff, or even visit the guest QTH to help the guest get on the
air with their own stuff (we call this the “traveling host”).
What a great way to do Field Day! Operate on your schedule in an air
conditioned bug free environment. Enjoy the fun of Field Day operating
without the hassle. Field Day runs from 2 pm local on Saturday, Jun 25
through 5 pm local on Sunday, Jun 26.
Host stations so far:
* Bill WM3X — New Kenwood TS-990S, CW, SSB, hf
* Glenn N4LV — IC 7600, RTTY, CW, SSB, hf (day/night operation)
* Jim AI4WL — IC 746 PRO/IC 7000, SSB, Dig, CW, vhf, hf
* Jamie KJ4JK — IC746 PRO, Dig, SSB
(For more info contact WM3X, N4LV, AI4WL, or KJ4JK)
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours ending
yesterday at 5 pm local. The most recent activity was a C1 flare at
0737Z this morning. There are 2 numbered sunspot regions on the disk
facing Earth; we narrowly missed a blank Sun over the weekend. The sunspot
count is 25, up 10 from the 15 reported by NOAA last week. The Solar Flux
Index (SFI) was 83 at noon yesterday, down from the 97 recorded a week ago
at Penticton. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, solar
activity is expected to be very low for the next three days with a only a
slight chance for C-class flares. The NOAA forecast has the SFI dropping to
80 today and to 75 on Tuesday through Wednesday. The 90 day trailing average
is 93, the same as last week.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. The field is
forecast to reach minor storm levels today. The Earth is in a stream of
solar wind flowing from a coronal hole on the sun. On Tuesday it should be
quiet to active and Wednesday it should be quiet. The Kp-index was reported
to be a quiet 2 at 8 a.m. local this morning.
Expect only fair conditions on 30 and 20 Meters and poor on the higher
bands. Poor day and only fair night conditions are expected on 80 and 40.
Six Meter activity is increasing with E layer skip contacts from the
Southeast frequent, both mid-morning and late evenings. Contacts into Europe
from the Northeast have been reported.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
CYPRUS, 5B. Ralph, DL9MWG is QRV as 5B/DL9MWG until June 4.
Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using mostly CW. 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.
Nothing heard.
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 :
* 04/0000-05/2359Z Jun 10-10 International Open Season PSK, Dig 28 MHz
* 04/1500-05/1459Z Jun IARU Region 1 Field Day, CW, 1.8-28
* 04/1500-05/1500Z Jun RSGB National Field Day, CW 1.8-28
* 04/1600-05/0400Z Jun Alabama QSO Party, CW Ph, 1.8-28
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
——————————————————————–
* FOR SALE–
The following equipment is being sold because I no longer have the time to
use it or the space to store it. Unless otherwise noted, all units are
fully functional at or above their manufacturer specifications.
Cosmetically they are 9+ out of 10, showing only signs of routine use.
Asking prices are based on the average of recent completed transactions for
the same or similar units on eBay, or are approximately one half of the
original price, and are believed to represent the current market value.
Pictures are available on request. Shipping if necessary is not included.
Local pickup is preferred. All sales are final. Contact Bill Michne at
252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com.
Heathkit HW-9 CW QRP transceiver. Covers 250 kHz of the following bands:
80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meters. Includes PSA-9 power supply,
HFT-9A antenna tuner, and HM-9 SWR/watt meter. I am the original
owner/builder. The transceiver circuit is original with the exception of
the replacement of two capacitors in the keying circuit to improve the
keying wave shape, as recommended by AB7MY. Using only simple wire
antennas, in the last year I have worked all states and 27 DX entities with
this rig. $400.00.
Yaesu FT-897 HF/VHF/UHF all mode transceiver. Maximum power outputs are:
160-6 meter, 100 W; 2 meters, 50 W; 70 cm, 25 W. Includes the FC-30
automatic antenna tuner, YF-122C narrow filter for CW/digital modes, and
MMB-80 mounting bracket. Does not include the internal batteries for
portable operation as I never purchased them. $700.00.
Ten Tec Omni VI HF transceiver. Includes the matching Ten Tec power
supply/speaker, the narrow filter for CW/digital modes and an Astatic D-104
microphone. This radio has outstanding audio characteristics on transmit.
$1200.00.
Ten Tec Titan 425 legal limit linear amplifier. This unit consists of a
lightweight desktop RF deck containing the two 3CX800A7 ceramic tubes and a
separate remote power supply with hypersil transformer. The RF deck can be
switched between HV ranges, the higher one for full legal limit output, and
the lower one for high duty cycle modes such as RTTY. The unit features an
overdrive limit circuit to protect the tubes, and a rapid switching circuit
for preventing “hot switching” during QSK and VOX operation. $1200.00.
Kenwood TS-830S ham band transceiver. Includes the matching SP-230 speaker,
the VFO-230 digital VFO, and the MC-50 microphone. The unit has a full
complement of Fox Tango filters for both CW/RTTY and SSB operation
installed. These filters have very steep skirts to provide exquisite
selectivity. This is a hybrid radio, mostly solid state, but with tubes in
the driver and final amplifier stages. The sale includes two sets of
replacement tubes. I recently had the radio professionally restored to full
original specifications. $800.00.
Kenwood TS-940S solid state 160-10 meters transceiver and general coverage
receiver. This radio does not transmit, and has limited receive function.
If the transmit function can be reestablished it is probably worth
repairing. Otherwise it is good for parts. $75.00. (20160509)
*FOR SALE — Yaesu FT-450 Transceiver, MD 100 desk mike and a Pyramid
35 amp power supply. All for $550 and the FT-450 alone for $450. All you
will need is an antenna to be on the air. Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI,
charlie@dockline.net or 252-249-1257. (20160509).
* FOR SALE — BX Free Standing Tower, rotor/controller and Mosley
Yagi Antenna
A) Tower-Mod.- BX 40Ft – 5-8Ft sections – with tilt mounting base plate and
wall mounting bracket.
B) Antenna – Mosley 3 element MOD. TA-33 JR (20-10-15)
C) Hi-gain CD-45-11 Rotor & Controller with 140+Ft control cable.
D) Mast – 7’6″ X 2″ .
E) Needs–New Thrust Bearing, suggest a Glen Martin Eng. model TB-25 (Has 6
lock down mast bolts) Grad 5 or higher – Nuts, Bolts, Washers for tower
assembly. Documentation included. Asking–$650.00 ( estimated new —
1800+ ) Contact — Dan Baker (N6XWF) @ (252) – 249-2922
(20160411)
(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:
* Jun 25-26, ARRL Field Day. PARS activity at host stations.
* Jul 30, 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/
* Chief Editor and Administrator is Greg Wadsworth KM4DZM, 252-322-1033 or
gwadsworth1@ yahoo.com
* 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.
On this Memorial Day, please remember those who gave their lives for
our nation. Thank those who served.
73,
Jim AI4WL