PARS BIT BUCKET–
From Bill Michne, WM3X: Well, it’s been pretty quiet lately, especially on the radio. Last weekend’s 10 meter contest is a case in point. I made very few contacts, mostly in the eastern half of the country, with signals varying in strength from S9 down to noise level in a matter of several seconds. My best DX was Washington state. But there were some trans-equatorial openings, and Tom, KI4NSP, and Jim, AI4WL, worked several stations in South America, even with QRP. The long range solar cycle forecast is not encouraging, so we might want to be thinking about how to improve our stations in the 160-30 meter bands. Still, the 20-10 meter neighborhood will continue to produce opportunities, but you will have to listen for them. Send an occasional CQ and you might be surprised by the result.
PARS HOLIDAY BREAKFAST MEETING AND “GIFT” EXCHANGE THIS MONTH
For this final gathering of the year, the “program” will be the exchange of small gifts not to exceed $10 or so in value. These items should be related to ham radio in some way. Put your imagination to work, see what you can find then wrap it and bring it to the meeting. Exchange it for a number. After your number is called, go through the pile and make your choice, then comes “show and tell”. If you already have a widget like the one you unwrapped, swap it for something else. It’s a fun time. See you at the meeting on New Year’s Eve morning, Saturday, December 31st, 9 am, at Brantley’s Village Restaurant in Oriental. This a family affair. Spouses and kids are invited to join us for breakfast and the fun. Of course, there is no need for them to bring a gift to exchange. And if you forget a “gift”, not to worry, come anyway, eat and watch the show. Bill has more on this annual event…
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was very low during the 24 hours ending yesterday at 5 pm local. The most recent significant activity was a A6 flare at 0927Z this morning. There is but one sunspot region on the disk facing Earth this morning. The sunspot number (SSN) is 13, the same number as we reported last Monday. After two spotless days this week, we are up to 28 days without sunspots so far this year. The Solar Flux Index (SFI) is 72, up, but just one, from the 71 recorded at Penticton Sunday a week ago. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, solar activity is expected to be very low for the next three days with a slight chance for C-class flares today through Wednesday. The NOAA forecast has the SFI slowly rising a few to 75 on Wednesday. The 90 day trailing average remains 82.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. As the earth is again about to enter a stream of solar wind, the field is forecast to be quiet to active today and tomorrow and then unsettled, reaching minor storm levels on Wednesday. The Kp-index was reported to be a quiet 1 at 7 a.m. local this morning.
Expect fair conditions on 30 and 20 Meters, poor on the higher bands. Fair conditions are expected on 80 and 40, during the day and good at night. Although the numbers indicate poor conditions, there is still DX to be had. St. Helena Island, South Africa, and even Antarctica were workable late evenings on 40 last week; Bulgaria, Serbia on 20 at breakfast time. You might have to give up your favorite TV show or have a late breakfast to work ’em but the DX is out there. We’re hoping that Winter brings openings on the 6 meter band, especially for the January VHF Contest, the 21st through the 23rd.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
NORFOLK ISLAND, VK9N. Matt, VK1MA plans to be QRV as VK9NM from December 19 to 26. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters. Depending on local circumstances, he also plans to activate Mt. Bates, SOTA VK9/NO-001, on 40 to 10 meters. QSL via operator’s instructions. [Now, this one will be tough–ed.]
QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Again, 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
* 26/0830-26/1059Z Dec 3.5, 7 MHz DARC Christmas Contest, CW, PH
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 — Dave’s Cleaning House
2- Bearcat 210 Scanners $10.00 ea
1- Signalink USB $75.00
3- MFJ 1272B TNC/Mic Switch $30.00 ea
1- MFJ 1260 Mic/Rig Switch $80.00
1- Grandmaster memory keyer FREE to a good home
1- MFJ 815B HF SWR/Watt Meter $50.00
1- MFJ 817B VHF/UHF SWR/Watt Meter $50.00
1- Yaesu SP2000 Speaker $150.00
1- D104 desk mic $50.00 (may need some work)
Call Sam/Dave KD2T 252-617-0359 or davebacon137@embarqmail.com
(20161219)
* FOR SALE: Yasesu FT- DX3000
A perfect “10”. Only used lightly by a little old lady on Sunday. I am upgrading and would love to see you have this rig. I hate to part with it but I just purchased a FTDX5000. This is just not the basic rig that others are selling—here is what you get, Like new radio, optional 300 hz cw filter, optional DVS 6 Voice unit, FH-2 touch pad, Hand mic, SP-2000 external speaker w/filters, Nifty Mini-Manual, box and radio manual. I have well over $2200.00 invested. I’ll let it go for $1995.00 $1795, you pay shipping for 2 boxes. Local pickup possible in NC. CONUS only. NO TRADES. PayPal, cash, check (units shipped when check clears). Pictures on request. DON’T MISS THIS ONE! Sam, KD2T, davebacon137@embarqmail.com or call 252-617-0359 (20160822, 20161212)
* 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 SOLD
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 SOLD
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.
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.
And, of course, we wish for you a very Merry Christmas!
73,
Jim AI4WL