CONTEST CLUB UPDATE
From Bill Michne, WM3X. Contest Club Update: PARS is now officially listed as an ARRL affiliated contest club. This means that eligible PARS members can simply list Pamlico Amateur Radio Society, LTD, on their contest log submission to have their individual scores added to the club score. To be eligible, your station needs to be within 35 miles of Oriental. If you live further out than that you can still be eligible but our local club class of competition will change. For the 10-meter contest this coming weekend just let me know BEFORE the contest that you intend to submit your score for the club, and I will notify ARRL of your eligibility. For 2017 and beyond, your eligibility will be automatic based on your station location, assumed to be your home address. As for the 10-meter contest this coming weekend consider giving it a try. Even with our currently poor propagation conditions you may be pleasantly surprised at how many contacts you can make. Contest details can be found at http://www.arrl.org/10-meter.
AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT–TIME IS SHORT!
As you should know, this extremely important legislation would enable radio amateurs living in deed-restricted communities to erect efficient outdoor antennas and has taken years of effort by the ARRL and others to reach this point. The bill has been approved by the House of Representatives but is awaiting passage by the U.S. Senate. If it does not pass during the “lame duck’ session ending in mid-December, it will die and the entire process will have to be repeated. After being so close to passage, and with even the association of home owners associations agreeing to the wording, that would be a shame.
Our support is needed to get the bill to the Senate floor for a vote and passed. As they say, the clock is ticking. Our task is simple. Go to the ARRL’s Rally Senate page ( https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ ) , enter your ZIP code, fill in your name and address, press enter, and e-mails will go directly to your Senators. We can do this, even if we have already contacted our Senators for support. You may review and edit your e-mail before it is sent. I added a paragraph to mine.
The number of deed-restricted communities continues to grow. Amateurs move into them as alternatives decline. They often leave the air unable to overcome the no-antenna obstacle. Obviously, this major obstruction can only stifle new interest in amateur radio.
Many of us in our rural county might not be directly affected or require this relief, but then many others of us are. Please do your part.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was low during the 24 hours ending yesterday at 5 pm local. The most recent significant activity was a C1 flare at 0607Z this morning. There are 2 sunspot regions on the disk facing Earth this morning. One is producing weak solar flares. The sunspot number (SSN) is 37, just a little higher than the 31 we reported last Monday. The Solar Flux Index (SFI) is 82, nearly the same as the 83 recorded at Penticton Sunday a week ago. (Remember, the Penticton readings are taken daily at noon so we report here in the morning the reading taken yesterday). According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, solar activity is expected to be very low for the next three days with a chance for C-class flares and a slight chance for an M-class flare today through Wednesday. The NOAA forecast has the SFI slowly dropping to 78 on Wednesday. The 90 day trailing average is 84.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. Although we are experiencing winds from a broad solar hole, the field is forecast to be quiet to unsettled today and then quiet each day through Wednesday. The Kp-index was reported to be an extremely quiet zero at 7 a.m. local this morning.
Expect fair conditions on 30 and 20 Meters, poor on the higher bands. Good conditions are expected on 80 and 40, both during the day and at night. Very little activity was reported on the VHF bands this past week.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
ST. LUCIA, J6. Operators W3FF, W6PNG, W6LDX, KI8R, K0BBC, WJ1B and KO7M will be QRV as J6/home calls from December 4 to 12. W3FF and W6HFP will be QRV as J68FF and J68HF, respectively. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters from various locations on the island. QSL via operators’ instructions. [This should be an easy one–ed.]
QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Zippo!
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
* 10/0000-11/2359Z Dec 28 MHz ARRL 10-Meter Contest, CW Ph
* 10/2300-18/2300Z Dec 1.8-7 AWA Bruce Kelly 1929 QSO Party, CW
* 11/2100-11/2259Z Dec 14 CQC Great Colorado Snowshoe Run, CW
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 are a great way to get those last states for your Worked All States (WAS) Award.)
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
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* (NEW) FOR SALE Icom 745 Transceiver with matching Icom PS 15 power supply and Icom M-8 Desk Microphone. Great back- up radio. All for $400. Contact Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI, 252-249-1257 (20161205)
* FOR SALE:
1. Kenwood TS-50S HF Transceiver, asking $275
2. Icom AH-4 antenna tuner( can be used on a boat to tune backstay, asking $150
3. Gap vertical antenna Eagle DX model asking $175 covers 10-40m – 40m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, and 10m
4. Icom IC-228H , 2m mobile, asking $75
5. Icom IC-2GAT 2M Handheld, asking $90
6. Icom IC-24AT 2M/440 Handheld, asking $100
7. Icom IC-3210A, 2M/440 mobile, asking $135
8. Icom IC 706MKIIG HF/VHF/UHF (mobile or base station), asking $675
9. Yaesu FT-1500M 2M mobile, asking $75
10. LDG Z100 Autotuner, asking $75
11. MFJ Deluxe Versatuner II, model MFJ 949E, covers 160m to 20M, 300 watts, asking $80
12. MFJ 25 amp Mighty Lite power supply, asking $60
13. Kenwood DC Switching Power Supply PS-40, asking $75
Contact Tom Finta K8TF at 252-249-9838 or fintatom@aol.com
(20161128)
* 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 13.5″ W x 8.5 H x 14″ D. 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 $500. Contact Bill Cresswell, K2ONN at 252-249-0148. (20161024)
* DONATED EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Here are two pieces of equipment in excellent condition, fully tested, and completely functional. First is an MFJ Versa Tuner II, model 949B. This antenna tuner is rated at 300 watts maximum, has two coax outputs that are switchable and can be bypassed, and an internal dummy load. It also has balanced line or single wire output. The meter (single needle) reads forward and reflected power in two ranges, 0-30 and 0-300 watts, and SWR. Second is an MFJ Artificial Ground, Model 931. This unit is used for stations that can’t get a good RF ground, such as when the station is not on a ground floor, or when working portable at a camp ground or park. It is rated at 300 watts maximum. User manuals for both units are available for download in pdf format. Prices: tuner, $60.00, artificial ground, $50.00. These are less than half the cost of comparable new units from DX Engineering. Special deal: buy both units for $100 (they are often used together). All proceeds go to PARS. Contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com. (20160926)
* FOR SALE
SGC antenna tuner. This is the SG 235 with Smart Lock. This tuner is connected at the foot of the antenna. It is rated for 500 Watts. It can be used on Marine, Auto and land applications. Totally weather sealed. New from HRO this unit and Smart Lock are just under $1200 from HRO. Get the best for $400. Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI, 252-249-1257 (20160912)
(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:
* Dec 31, PARS Monthly Meeting and Holiday Gift Exchange, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental, Bill Michne, WM3X. 252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com.
* Jan 28, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental, Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.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).
* Thursdays, Pamlico Six Meter Net, 8 pm local, 50.200 MHz, USB. A non-directed open net to promote operation on the ‘Magic Band’.
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.
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 subscribers a means to make known radio equipment and other related items they have for sale or trade. Since PARS members may have limited internet access, the PARSgram has no attachments and kept relatively short. Log on to the PARS Website at https://www.n4prs.org/ for longer news articles, photos, forums, 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
73,
Jim, AI4WL