PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Countdown to Field Day: only 2 weeks to go. If you are going to
operate, either from home or from a portable location, now is the time
to set up your equipment and practice! Things have a way of going
downhill when least expected and most needed. You want to use your
operating time to be making contacts, not trying to figure out why, for
example, your multiband antenna that you were using last week to work a
ton of DX suddenly is showing an SWR >10 on all bands. Now, one of the
more difficult operating bonuses to get is the 100 points for making one
contact using a satellite. One reason for this is that there are very
few satellites available to use, and the low earth orbit FM birds are
nothing more than cross band repeaters making one contact at a time in a
short time window. But for this Field Day ARISS is making the crossband
repeater aboard the space station available for use during Field Day.
That should increase your chances of making the contact. But you made
need to practice. Pass predictions and operating tips can be found at
www.amsat.org. .._._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175,
drmichne73@gmail.com
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was very low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. There are two numbered sunspot regions
on the Sun facing Earth this morning. The Prediction Center expects
solar activity to be very low through Wednesday. There is, however, a
chance for a C-class flare each day. On Sunday the observed Solar Flux
Index (SFI) at Penticton was 69. (Last Sunday it was 77.) The index is
predicted to reach 77 today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The SFI 90 day
trailing average is 76.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. NOAA
expects conditions to be quiet to unsettled today then quiet to active
Tuesday and on Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 1 reported at 5 a.m.
local this morning reflects our current quiet geomagnetic conditions.
We can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating conditions today
on 80 and 40 meters but poor on 30, 20, and the higher bands. Conditions
should improve tomorrow.
After a less than stellar beginning on Saturday, the ARRL June VHF
Contest offered up some lively action Sunday when six meters opened into
Europe and the Caribbean and then up and down the East Coast and into
the Midwest. After so many hams have moved to FT8, it was good to see
considerable sideband activity on the band.
For an explanation of the 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 are 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.
* No new listings, send me one.
PARS CALENDAR:
* There will be NO PARS Monthly MEETING this month, June 2021.
* Jun 26-27, ARRL Field Day, home operation. To add your score to that
of other PARS members for a combined club score, list your club
affiliation as “Pamlico Amateur Radio Society, LTD”. For more info,
contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Jul 31, 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:
* 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
PARS YOUTUBE CHANNEL–N4PRS RADIO
Videos of recorded PARS Meetings, presentations, and club activities can
be viewed on on the N4PRS Radio YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpEMfxc7PQixT0rr5xEKtyQ
73, Jim AI4WL
——
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