PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
On Saturday we held our December PARS meeting in ZOOM format. The
attendance was pretty thin, with only about nine members checking in.
Well OK, it was the day after Christmas and a weekend besides, so maybe
a lot of our members were traveling. Or maybe some of you aren’t
equipped for zoom meetings, or simply don’t know how to do it. Well,
it’s pretty easy, and all you need is a smartphone or tablet, or a
computer with audio at least. There are plenty of people in the club
who can walk you through it in a minute or two, at which point you will
be an expert user. _…_ One of the topics discussed at the meeting
was the use of the zoom format to bring top notch speakers to our
meetings from anywhere else in the lower 48. I ‘m happy to tell you
that our first such speaker will be Bob Heil on January 30. I will
leave the details of the event announcement to Bruce, K4ONC. But if you
don’t know who Bob Heil is, as a very brief introduction, I suggest you
go to www.hamradio.com and enter “heil” in the Search window. You will
be amazed. …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175,
drmichne73@gmail.com.
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) DEC 26,2020 VIRTUAL MEETING NOTES
* Nine PARS members attended the 9 am day after Christmas meeting
chaired by President Bill Michne via Zoom. Steve Silveira, KO4EDA, was
our technical host.
* No rewards or upgrades. Bill reported his AL1500 is back to legal
limit and 40 CW has been hot. Jim, AI4WL, went the other way and is back
doing 2 watt QRP with FT8, also with success as propagation improves.
* Bill presented the treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally. Wally
reports 33 renewals received for 2021–the dues letters went out in late
November. He again reminded all that the club gets to keep two dollars
from each ARRL renewal made through the club. ARRL has tackled the FCC–
now regarded as “anti-ham”–on numerous issues lately. An example, the
new requirement for a FRN to apply for a first license, a catch-22. The
number has been assigned in the past as part of the license grant. Bruce
Arnold, KS8L, advised a FRN is now being obtained during the New Bern
Club’s VE test session check-in.
* Propagation Report by Jim, AI4WL: Solar activity continuing to
improve with C-class flares possible almost daily and many fewer
spotless days as we end the year.
* Mike, K4NLC, reported the Pamlico Emergency Net will generate around
13.5 man-hours from 5 sessions in Dec. The downward trend in
participation continues. He noted the recent article in Dec QST
supporting AUXCOMM participation. Paul, K4MMB, has listed ARES/AUXCOMM
recommended courses and other resources on the PARS web site.
* Paul reported attempts to access the PARS web site by some with
mal-intent continue. All known attempts have been recorded and blocked.
There were 128 visitors during the month looking at 209 pages. The
repeater list page continues to be the most popular.
* With Covid forced virtual meetings come opportunities. Bruce, K4ONC,
and Bill identified a number of interesting presentation possibilities
including Riley Hollingsworth, Bob Heil, Marv Hoffman, Bill Morine and
others who would bring interest to our meetings. Bruce offered to try to
get Bob Heil as one of the first. Steve Silveira, recognizing PARS’
in-house expertise, suggested simple show & tells. This opened the door
to an ad-hoc session started by Mike showing a Key Drive, Paul his
Arduino project controlling a zillion Christmas lights, then things went
downhill with Bruce playing his Christmas flute video and Steve
demonstrating something with his $100 or was it $1 [plastic-ed.]
trombone. Sanity was restored by a display of not so modern calculators
(slide rules) by Bruce Arnold.
* Look for a new Zoom PARS meeting link and ID to cover the first six
months of 2020
* There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 1004.
The next meeting will be on Saturday, January 30, via Zoom.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 pm local. There are 2 numbered sunspot region on
the Sun facing Earth this morning. On Sunday the observed Solar Flux
Index (SFI) at Penticton was 88. Solar activity is expected be very low
with a slight chance of C-class flares through Wednesday The index is
predicted to register 88 today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The SFI 90 day
trailing average is 84, creeping up one from last week.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet to active today, quiet to unsettled Tuesday, and then again quiet
on Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 2 reported at 7 a.m. local this
morning indicates we are currently experiencing quiet geomagnetic
conditions.
For the next several days, we can expect fair daytime and good nighttime
operating conditions on 80 and 40 meters, fair on 30 and 20, and poor on
the higher bands. The Winter Es season is here. The European map shows
many 6 Meter Es contacts this Monday morning.
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.
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**
SOLD Heil Foot Switch, push to transmit.
**Estate Ham Equipment For Sale**
Eddie Lyon, K4NGR, provided a long list of equipment he is wishing to
sell on behalf of the wife of a fellow ham who passed several weeks ago.
Major items now remaining on the list with prices originally paid
include a Yaesu FT2000/HF Transceiver $2,115 with Yaesu MD-100 Mic $179
and Yaesu external speaker with phone patch and an Ammeritron AL-811H
Amp $999. “These prices are what he had paid for them brand new so
whatever we can get for them to help his wife Pat out will be most
appreciated.” For a complete list of the remianing items or more
information please contact Eddie at ELyon47@aol.com or 540-905-5839.
(20201019, 20201102)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Jan 30, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
“Zoom”. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or
drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Feb 27, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
“Zoom” or at Brantleys Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill
Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* 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
In the County we are averaging just over 3 new Covid cases each day.
Please mask up in public and stay safe.
73, Jim AI4WL
——
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