PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Here’s a yawn worthy news snippet from the world of DX. A German group
is going to put on what they call an experimental event. They are going
to attempt to determine how long it takes to achieve DXCC using only
FT-8. They will only call CQ. So if I read this right, they will only
need to work one station in each of 100 DXCC entities. Does that mean
that once they work a station in an entity all other callers in that
entity will be ignored? Well, they can’t be wasting time working entity
dupes. And all contacts will be confirmed with a special event QSL
card. I wonder if they will wait until the end of the event to figure
out that they only need to have 100 cards printed. _…_ At the ARES
meeting at PCC last week we heard about using cross band repeat to
enhance the effectiveness of communication from the shelter at the
college. Bill, KR4LO, is working to debug the system and get it working
better. Got me thinking that I could set one up at my QTH for better
access to repeaters and simplex from inside my house using only a
handheld running a few milliwatts. Sounds like fun. …_._ 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. Finally, after 35 days in a row without,
there is a sunspot region (AR2758) on the Sun facing Earth this morning.
It belongs to Cycle 25. According to spaceweather dot com, of the four
sunspots we have seen this year, three have been of the new Cycle. 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 70
today through Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing average
is 71.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet today and quiet to unsettled on Tuesday and Wednesday. The
estimated Kp-index of 2 reported at 7 a.m. local this morning indicates
we are currently experiencing quiet conditions.
No change: we can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating
conditions on 80 and 40 meters. 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
KYRGYZSTAN, EX. Yuri, R2DY, Pavel, R2DX and Eugene, RW3FB are QRV
as EX0QR from the south bank of Issyk-Kul Lake until March 17.
Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital
modes. QSL via R2DX, direct, by the Bureau or ClubLog’s
OQRS.
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.
**NEW FOR SALE**
1. Titan DX Multiband Antenna (cost $500) New, but has been in
storage for several years. $150. 25’ tall, 25 lbs. Included with the
antenna, a 12 ft., 1 1/2” diam., heavy-wall steel pipe for a mast
mount/extension. Specs and other details available at the GAP website:
gapantenna.com. Covers 10m – 80m, needs no radials; center feed; triple
wall tubing.
2. Daiwa CN101L. SWR AND POWER METER. NEW. (COST $130). $45
3. ASTRON POWER Supply (COST $140). New. $50 Linear DC Supply 13.6
VDC 20 Amps with Meters; Output Voltage: 13.8 VDC (+0.05 V) Internally
Adjustable (11-15 V.)
NOTE: All 3 items include instructions + mounting and tuning
instructions for the antenna. Contact: Larry Jones, ljonesnc4@gmail.com
or at 252 617-0525. Will consider reasonable offers. (20200309)
**FOR SALE**
Four used sections of Rohn 25g Tower (10 foot). One of the four has rust
on the bottom foot or foot and half, other three are all good. Would
like to see them go to a good home. Reasonable offers will be accepted
(buyer must have way to haul them off). Jim Cason AC4JC, 252-636-0407 or
jlcason@yahoo.com. (20200302)
**SOLD** Yaesu FT-450D HF to 6 meter transceiver. Like new, $450
**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.
* 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.
* Apr 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.
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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