PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Special event stations are usually set up to make a lot of contacts on weekends without the pressure of a contest. They are informal, and depending on the number of hams calling, are often casually conversational. If the event is set up in conjunction with another event then the general public gets to see what amateur radio is about. So special event stations can be seen as an opportunity to get people interested in the hobby and hopefully join its ranks. So as a trial balloon VP Bruce, K4ONC, is setting up a special event station in conjunction with the Dragon Boat Races this Saturday at River Dunes. The station will be operating on 20 meters SSB, for about four hours, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The goal is to get people in front of the radio to listen, and to speak with someone who is somewhere far away. Bruce is providing all of the equipment, but what we really need are some of our members to come out and be ambassadors for amateur radio. Your job will be to make contacts, help the public talk on the radio, and get them interested in taking a Technician course and get their license. Even if you come out for a half hour your time will be appreciated. For more information about it, or to sign up to help out, contact Bruce at K4ONC@aol.com. …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL SPECIAL EVENT STATION THIS SATURDAY
From Vice President Bruce Perkins, K4ONC:
“I am still in need of a folding table and 3 to 4 folding chairs for the HF station at the Dragon Boat Race on Saturday, August 10th. Gary, NC3Z, has updated the N4PRS QRZ Page with the Dragon Boat Special Event Station information. We will be operating on 20 meters in the General Class frequency range. In addition, we will be monitoring the Oriental repeater for any “talk ins”. So far Paul, K4MMB, and myself are the only operators. If anyone else would like to participate, PLEASE, contact me via email K4ONC@aol.com ASAP, and I will email you additional info.”
PARS MEMBERS RECEIVE AUXILIARY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS (AUXCOMM) TRAINING
From Vice President Bruce Perkins, K4ONC:
“Three PARS members, Bruce Perkins – K4ONC, Lor Kutchens – W3QA and Mike Marsh – N4NLC, returned home on Saturday, August 3rd from attending the 2019 AuxComm course in Charlotte. This three (3) day course was one of several presented at the 2019 NC Disaster Communications School held at the Charlotte Police and Fire Training Academy. Bruce, Lor and Mike joined approximately 130 other participants from through out North Carolina and South Carolina to increase their skills in many aspects of Emergency Communications. The AuxComm class that the three attended, along with 24 other amateur radio operators, was only one class of several being held simultaneously through out the week. The week culminated on Friday the 2nd with all classes working together in joint field exercises from multiple communications trailers on the training field. The different classes/courses included: AUXCOMM (Auxiliary Communications); COML (Communication Leaders); COMT (Communication Technicians); INTD (Tactical Dispatching) and ITSL (IT Specialists). The school was sponsored by NC Emergency Management, NC Department of Public Safety, FEMA, NC AuxComm Society, Charlotte Fire Department and several other others.”
“Overall, it was a very worthwhile event for all participants, gaining valuable knowledge in our specific disciplines. Lor, Mike and myself feel very fortunate to have attended this training and thank our own resident COML, Gary Mitchelson – NC3Z, for supporting our attendance.”
“Some photos taken by K4ONC will be posted on the N4PRS web site.”
PAMLICO EMERGENCY NET/ARES
From Mike Marsh, K4NLC:
“Wednesday evening ARES check-in at 1930 on the Oriental repeater. Please try and send a WinLink check-in to N4PRS before the check-in and try to utilize one of the modes other than telnet – ARDOP usually works pretty well for me. KQ4ET is usually a good gateway. The quick check-in form is at the bottom of the General forms option under the Standard Templates selection. After normal check-in I will send a test message via Fldigi as I did last week so please have your computers turned on and the Fldigi program fired up.”
“ARES monthly meeting 15 August in room 411 of the Brinson building (the middle one) at PCC. All are welcome. Topic will focus on upcoming SET and on our ham hurricane preparedness.”
“We are tentatively scheduled to hold our hurricane season SET on 21 August. Fldigi will be a part of the SET this year.”
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours ending yesterday at 5 pm local. There are no sunspot regions on the sun facing earth this morning. Activity will continue to be very low according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. On Sunday, the reported Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 67. The index is predicted to stay at 67 today through Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is holding at 69.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to reach minor storm levels today, quiet to minor storm levels Tuesday and then quiet to active on Wednesday. A stream of solar wind is the cause. The estimated Kp-index of 5 at 5 a.m. local this morning indicates we are currently experiencing minor storm conditions. They mostly impact the higher lattitudes.
We can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating conditions on 80 and 40 meters for the next few days. Poor conditions will continue on the higher bands. For the six meter band, expect a short opening (E layer skip) most days. Check the cluster or DXmaps for an opportunity to work St. Paul on 6M. It is only a single hop from Pamlico County.
For an explanation of numbers used in our PARSgram, see the excellent article written by Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA at http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere.
ACTIVE DXPEDITION–ST. PAUL ISLAND
ST. PAUL ISLAND, CY9. A group of operators are QRV as CY9C until August 8. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8 in DXpedition mode, EME, and on various Satellites. QSL direct to WA4DAN. Located between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, this chance is not to be missed. See http://www.cy9c.com
PARS CALENDAR:
* Aug 10, Dragon Boat Festival–Special Event Station, Saturday, 8a-4p, River Dunes, Bruce Perkins. K4ONC, 252-249-6015 or k4onc@aol.com.
* Aug 15, Emergency Communications Training for ARES, Thursday, 7-9 pm, Brinson Building Room 411, Pamlico Community College, Mike Marsh, K4NLC, 252-636-1257 or mike@marshconsulting.org
* Aug 21, Annual Simulated Emergency Test (SET) for Pamlico Emergency Net/ARES members, Wednesday, 7:30 pm, Oriental Repeater, 147.210 + (PL151.4). Transmission of message using NBEMS is planned. See http://www.arrl.org/nbems For more info contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC, 252-636-1257 or mike@marshconsulting.org.
* Aug 31, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Sep 28, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Mondays, Pete’s “Pamlico Swamp Roundtable” (“Swamp Net” for some), around 8 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 10 Meter Band voice segment open to technician licensees and above. Radio related topics/questions/issues welcomed.
* Tuesdays, Newport Weather Service SKYWARN Practice Net, 9:00 pm local, Oriental (147.210+ (PL151.4)) and all other local repeaters. Open net for severe weather warning and reporting continously monitored upon activation.
* Wednesdays, Pamlico Emergency Net Practice and Rag Chew/ARES, 7:30 pm, Oriental Repeater, 147.210 + (PL151.4).
* Thursdays, “DownEast/Pamlico Six Meter Net”, 8 pm local, 50.200 MHz, USB. A non-directed open net to promote operation on the ‘Magic Band’.
(For more nets see www.arrl.org/arrl-net-directory-search )
PARS WEB SITE: https://www.n4prs.org/
Web Master is Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, 561-308-3456, PARSwebman@gmail.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.
73, Jim AI4WL
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This email is sent to members and friends of the Pamlico Amateur Radio Society. We are pleased that you asked to receive our weekly newsletter and hope that you enjoy reading it. If you no longer wish to receive the PARSgram please let us know by reply email or by email to jth350@embarqmail.com. Thanks.