PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
There’s never been a Field Day like the one we just had. The covid
pandemic pretty much shut down the classic FD operations of setting up
club stations in the field and operating using generators. The social
aspects of the event were also gone, as were the opportunities to
showcase amateur radio to the general public. But there were some new
wrinkles that I think were a good thing. There was a lot of activity on
the bands, including 15 and 10 meters. I worked 40 and 20 CW and
without much effort managed to make over a 100 contacts. A number of
PARS members also operated. The majority of operators were using their
home stations and commercial power. The purists would say that’s not
really field day but I disagree. In a real emergency, of course you
have the need to set up field stations. But those field stations have
to talk to other stations outside of the radius of emergency, and those
stations need to be fully operational and dependable as well. This FD
we had the opportunity to test our emergency support readiness operating
from home. I’m glad we did as it helped me identify some weaknesses in
my own setup. _…_ If you operated your station for FD you can submit
your score for your own operation, but also add your score to the PARS
overall score. It’s easy to do using the ARRL scoring app found on
their website. Just click on the choice to add your score to your club.
This will open a window listing all eligible clubs. Select “Pamlico
Amateur Radio Society, Ltd.” and you’re all done. …_._ 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 5 pm local. There is one sunspot region on the Sun
facing Earth this morning. It is a member of old Cycle 24 and now
decaying. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center activity will
continue to be very low through Wednesday. On Sunday the reported Solar
Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 69. The index is predicted to register
69 today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is also 69.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. It is
expected to be quiet to unsettled today and then quiet Tuesday and
Wednesday. We have a minor stream of solar wind affecting the Earth’s
magnetic field. The estimated Kp-index of 2 reported at 5 a.m. local
this morning indicates we are currently experiencing quiet conditions.
We can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating conditions on 80
and 40 meters. Expect poor conditions on the higher HF bands, no change
there.
On the Magic Band was quiet for most of the past week. It woke up on
Saturday and the weekend brought plenty of life. No Es into Europe was
seen from here, but the band was hopping into the Midwest, up and down
the coast and into Canada and the Caribbean.
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.
QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event
Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Dick Goodwin had a great week doing something different. He
concentrated on the annual 13 Colonies Event. On July 1st, Dick worked a
“clean sweep” of all 13 colonies plus both bonus stations in about 3-1/2
hours….80/40/30/20m, CW, SSB, FT8, FT4. A fun event he said. Then,
since it was so much fun, he kept going. Yesterday he reported “…
Finally got it done…3 separate Clean Sweeps of all 13 colonies plus
both bonus stations…all CW, all Digital and all SSB. It was a fun
distraction from the Covid19 mess…”
Anybody else play the Colonies this year?
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
For listing in the PARSgram send me your amateur radio related items
that you have for sale, trade, or wanted. PLEASE let me know when you
have have sold your item or your listing is no longer needed. Listings
will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise.–Jim.
** FOR SALE**
HyGain 18 AVQ 10 thru 80 ground mounted vertical. Base section ruined by
Florence, replaced with new section from HyGain, antenna not
reinstalled. Antenna in 3 sections for transport – base, middle and top
with counterpoises, longest about 8 feet. $100 and you transport. Call
Art KB1TX at 252-571-1752. (20200511)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Jul 29, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
Radio or at Brantleys TBD. 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.
Stay safe. If you have to shop, protect yourself and those around you.
Please wear your mask. Thanks.
73, Jim AI4WL
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