PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
On Saturday I was sitting in my shack bemoaning the fact that I was
missing the ARRL 160 Meter contest due to lack of a suitable antenna, so
I started the scan function on my VHF/UHF rig to see if there was any
life at that end of my usable portion of the spectrum. I immediately
heard activity on the Newport machine (145.45, PL 100.0). There were
two unusual things about what I was hearing on the “local” repeater. One
was that the courtesy tone was Morse letter “L,” and the other was that
the stations I was hearing were from the Midwest, up and down the east
coast from Maine to Florida, west to Kansas, Missouri, Colorado,
Arizona, and California, as well as DX in the form of Alaska (which I
need on 160, by the way). What I was hearing, of course, was a net on
the Internet Radio Linking Project, or simply IRLP. These folks were
lining up to have a QSO with the National Hurricane Center in Florida as
part of SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY. It then occurred to me that IRLP is a
vast and underutilized resource for all amateurs holding a Technician or
higher license, which account for over 90% of the current three quarters
of a million licensed hams in the US. And since the repeaters are
linked through the internet internationally, foreign contacts are
possible. This means that almost any ham who can access a suitable IRLP
repeater with a $30 handheld transceiver can work the world. Isn’t this
something the amateur radio community should be promoting? …_._ de
WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours
ending yesterday at 4 pm local. There are no sunspot regions on the Sun
facing Earth this morning. This is our 262nd morning this year without
sunspots, seven more and we will exceed the number of spotless days in
2008. 2008 was at the bottom of Cycle 23. According to spaceweather.com
we have to go back to 1913 to find a year with fewer spotless days, 311.
Solar 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 72. The index is predicted to register 70 today
through Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing average is 69.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet to unsettled today and quiet Tuesday and Wednesday. The estimated
Kp-index of 0 reported at 7 a.m. local this morning indicates we are
currently experiencing very quiet conditions.
Notwithstanding our spotless Sun, we can expect good daytime and good
nighttime operating conditions on 80 and 40 meters for the next few
days, fair conditions both day and night on 30 and 20. Poor conditions
will continue on the higher bands. Even from Pamlico County, DX still
can be had, especially when using the digital modes–Reunion Island on
40 (FT8) was a big surprise last week.
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.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
LAOS, XW. Bruce, 3W3B is QRV as XW4XR until December 16. Activity
is on 60 to 6 meters using CW, FT8 and FT4. QSL via E21EIC.
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
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. Listings will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise.–Jim.
**For Sale** by Fred Elsner, W4fae, 252-637-3742 (20191028)
1) Icom 7600 SOLD
2) Icom 7000 SOLD
3) LDG 100 auto tuner, perfect size and electrical match for a Icom
7000. $80. Fred, W4fae, 252-637-3742
4) West Mountain Rig Blaster Advantage (for digital mode operating}.
With all cables etc. $100.
**For Sale ** by Jim Cason, AC4JC, 252-636-0407 or jlcason@yahoo.com
(20190930 updated 2019-12-09)
– TenTech 411 Amplifier, uses three 811A tubes, similar in size to the
Collins “S” line amplifier. An almost new set of Chinese made 811’s
included. The amp is running vintage US Made 811A’s (higher power
output), and I have a number of additional vintage 811’s included. up to
100 watt drive, up to 600 watt RF output into 50 ohm load. Capable of
full QSK along with a Jupiter or other TenTec transceivers on CW;
possibly with other rigs. Can be operated on 110 volt, I have it wired
for 220 volt (don’t have 220 available in the house, or I might keep
it). Built before 10 meter capability was removed from amps, although I
really used it mostly on 75 and 40. Best pricing information I could
find on these is selling for an average of $650. ** Any Reasonable
offers will be seriously considered.**
– TenTec 229B Tuner, capable of a full 2KW PEP, built as an L-network,
where additional capacitor has been added to cover 160 meters even. Has
a 4-position RF switch. Best pricing information I could find on these
is selling for an average of $250. ** Any Reasonable offers will be
seriously considered.**
– Full 2KW Rotary Coaxial Switch SOLD
– B&W 50 ohm Dummy Load/Wattmeter, capable of full power BRIEFLY. Has
10/100/1KW meter. Overheating lamp is small 110 volt bulb and is burnt
out. Working but not sure of accuracy. $50.
– DX Engineering DXE-BAL050-H05-A 2KW Continuous, 5KW Intermittent 1:1
Coaxial Balun. This sells for $139.99 new, will sell for half that
price, $70. Has never had more than about 600 watts put through it.
PARS CALENDAR:
* Dec 28, PARS MONTHLY MEETING and Annual Christmas Gift Exchange,
Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. For more info,
contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Jan 25, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-249-6015, k4onc@aol.com.
* Feb 6, Emergency Communications for ARES/AUXCOMM, Thursday, 7-9 pm,
Brinson Building Room 411, Pamlico Community College, Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@marshconsulting.org
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Tuesdays, Newport Weather Service SKYWARN Practice Net, 9:00 pm
local, Oriental (147.210+ (PL151.4)) and all other local repeaters. This
net for severe weather warning and reporting is 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/
Our 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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