PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
The steadily increasing demand for real estate in the RF spectrum is
about to strike the Chinese amateur radio community. China’s
telecommunications regulator has proposed amending the Measures for the
Administration of Amateur Radio Stations, and some amateur bands are in
danger of being eliminated. Lide Zhang, BI8CKU, told ARRL that the
proposal would prohibit amateur operation on the 2200-meter band as well
as on 146 – 148 MHz, 1260 – 1300 MHz, 3400 – 3500 MHz, 5650 – 5725 MHz,
and all bands above 10 GHz. While the Chinese authorities say that the
elimination of all of the proposed frequencies is unlikely, you can be
sure that if only some are eliminated it will be just a matter of time
before the authorities are back for more. What about the US? Well, as
bandwidth demands of the digital world keep going up, our UHF bands will
become very attractive targets. _…_ On the flip side of the high
tech digital revolution, there are lots of folks who just like old
stuff. Sailing, for example, is a multi-billion dollar industry
world-wide. In the amateur radio universe there are a number of
thriving CW clubs. That antiquated mode still charms many among us,
young as well as old. Case in point, the Straight Key Century Club.
This is a free club whose members try to contact other members using
only straight keys, side winders, or bugs. As of today, SKCC has 21,625
members in their database, many of whom are DX. They give out awards
for members to contact members. The basic award is the Centurion award
for contacting 100 members. Trust me, this is not easy to do. I have
been a member for several years and I’m not even close. But it can be
done. Eddie, K4NGR, has just surpassed the 100 member mark for his
Centurion award. Congratulations, Eddie! And keep at it. The awards
go up into the hundreds and thousands of contacts. That’s a lot of
brass pounding! …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175,
drdmichne73@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 numbered sunspot regions on
the Sun facing Earth this morning. 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 71 today and 70 on Tuesday and Wednesday. The more
important SFI 90 day trailing average remains 70.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet to unsettled today and quiet to active 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.
We can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating conditions on 80
and 40 meters for the next few days. Fair conditions both day and night
are expected on 30 and 20. Poor conditions will continue on the higher
bands. The VHF bands have been extremely quiet and this should be the
peak of the Winter Es season. Hopefully propagation will improve for
ARRL’s January VHF Contest coming up next weekend, 18-19 January. Learn
about the contest at www.arrl.org/january-vhf.
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.
DX CHALLENGE
PALAU, T8. Operators JI3DNN, JH3LSS, JA3HJI, JA3IVU, JA3ARJ and
JA3AVO are QRV as T88CZ, T88DK, T88DN, T88ED, T88EF and T88MB,
respectively, from Koror Island, IOTA OC-009, from January 15 to 23.
Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters. QSL to home calls.
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.
PARS CALENDAR:
* Jan 25, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.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
* Feb 29, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Mar 28, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Apr 4, FCC License Examination/VE Session, Saturday 9am, Oriental
Town Hall, Oriental. Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or
drmichne73@gmail.com.
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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