PARS BREAKFAST MEETING THIS COMING SATURDAY
Our next meeting will be at 0900 this Saturday, Feb 29th at Brantley’s
Village Restaurant on Broad Street in Oriental. Please park on the side
or out back. Our meetings are held the last Saturday of each month–even
in a leap year–except June when the club participates in the annual
ARRL Field Day or when in conflict with a major holiday. We hope to see
you all there. For more information contact Pamlico Amateur Radio
Society President Bill Michne, WM3X, 249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
We all know that we are supposed to back up the files on our computers
against loss of those files by accident or design. We all do it, right?
Yeah, right. Recently I have been hearing about irretrievable losses
of computerized logs and other ham records. Some were contest logs,
others were complete historical logs. The best defense against loss of
log data is to use the auto backup function that many logging programs
contain. For example, I use N3FJP ACLog software. This program allows
the user to set up an automatic backup function in a variety of ways,
such as once a month. I have mine set very stringently. Each time I
close the program, if the file has been changed by as little as one
character, the entire log is written to a backup file on an external
device. I also keep a spreadsheet file of all of my DX band and mode
QSL records for ongoing awards such as DXCC. Unfortunately, I’m not
aware that Excel has an autobackup function, so I have to do it
manually. But I do it faithfully, considering that the data set
contains QSL information going back to my first DX contact on March 17,
1980, and includes my contacts with now deleted countries, uh, sorry,
entities. …_._ 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. Solar activity will continue to be very low
through Wednesday according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. On
Sunday, the reported Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 70. The
index is predicted to register 71 today through Wednesday. The more
important SFI 90 day trailing average is also 71.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet to unsettled today and Tuesday and quiet to active on 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.
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
SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS, VP8. Members of the Perseverance DX Group are
QRV as VP8PJ from Signy Island, IOTA AN-008, until March 5.
Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 in
DXpedition mode. QSL via M0URX.
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**
Yaesu FT-450D HF to 6 meter transceiver. Like new condition. $450. Bill
Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com. (20200210)
**FOR SALE**by Sam/Dave Bacon, KD2T, davebacon137@embarqmail.com or
252-617-0359 (20200120)
* MFJ-928 Automatic antenna turner will handle 200w CW or SSB. Handles
up to 2 antennas. Tunes with 2 watts. Tunes in15 seconds. Audio SWR
meter. 20,000 memories. 4 memory banks. New $199.95 available for $145.00
* Ameritron 811 HF amplifier. Conveniently plug it into your nearest
120 VAC outlet — no special wiring needed. Three tough 811A
transmitting tubes, extra heavy duty power supply, all HF band coverage,
pressurized ventilation, tuned input, adjustable ALC & more. The AL-811
covers all HF bands. You can operate the AL-811 on all modes. Depending
on band gets approximately 600 watts output PEP SSB and 500 watts output
CW. You even get 400 watts on demanding continuous modes like RTTY,
SSTV, FM and AM. 2 extra 811 tubes comes with the amp. No box. Non
smoking house. Manual included. New from Ameritron $1099.95 Asking $600.00
* Yaesu SP 2000 Speaker with dust cover. External speaker with filters.
Yaesu grey color. Has dust cover. New at Gigi Parts $184.00 available at
$135.00.
* MFJ-1260 Mic/Rig Switch. Allows you to use 2 mics with 1 rig. MFJ
price is $119.95 Yours for $75.00
* MFJ-471RC Remote Control Antenna Switch. Remote control up to 2
antenna from your shack. Control voltage travel on the feed coax. No
need for a control wire. MFJ price $89.95 Your for $50.00
* MFJ1701 6 Position Manual Antenna Switch. Manually switch between up
to 6 different antennas. Has a scratch on the face. MFJ price $99.95
yours for $50.00
PARS CALENDAR:
* Technician Class Radio Operator Course, Mondays through March 30,
6:30 pm, Pamlico Community College, Brinson Building Room 411. For more
info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* 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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