PARSgram 2020-12-28

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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