PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Well, another Field Day is in the history books. Last year there were
very few classical club based Field Day events with tents, generators,
heat, humidity, thunderstorms, bugs, etc. But the number of home based
operations was at a record high. This year saw a return of several club
operations, but nowhere near as many as the traditional event. There
were plenty of 1D and 1E stations to make up the difference. I operated
my home station using the club call N4PRS, along with Jim, AI4WL, and
Paul, KO4MHM. I tried to operate all bands 80-10, but didn’t make any
contacts on 80. At the times I tried it there was just too much QRN to
make any contacts. There was plenty of activity on all the other bands,
though, and we were able to work phone, cw, and digital on all of them.
We kicked off our event by holding an exam session for two students from
my just completed Technician license class. Tim deMey of Grantsboro,
and Jack Brooks of New Bern, both earned their Technician class
licenses, and then stayed to see ham radio in action. Jim and Paul then
put on an educational session for the new licensees with an introduction
to FT8 digital operations. If any PARS members operated from their
homes don’t forget to request your score be combined with that of the
Pamlico Amateur Radio Society for our aggregate score. …_._ 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 and another is emerging. The
Prediction Center expects solar activity to be very low through
Wednesday. There is a chance for a C-class flare each day. On Sunday the
observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 87. (Last Sunday it was
76.) The index is predicted to reach 88 today, then 90 on Tuesday and
Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is still 76.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. NOAA expects
conditions to be quiet today and tomorrow and then quiet to unsettled 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, fair on 30 and 20, and poor on the higher bands.
Conditions are slowly improving, at least that’s what the the rising
daily solar flux numbers tell us. Expect that 90 day average to be
higher next week.
Field Day brought out the crowds and the HF bands were loaded over the
weekend. Reportedly, 160 and 80 were not productive but certainly 40
through 10 were. Lots of folks found a sweet spot on 20 Meters using
FT4. It was hard to find a home on the wall, even harder to keep it. Six
meters seemed quiet here for most, if not all, of the contest but it was
wide open Sunday evening all along the East Coast into the midwest. Too
bad those great conditions weren’t there on Saturday evening. DXmaps
shows E-skip contacts being made again this Monday morning.
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.
* NEW For Sale by Danny Garris, WD4CQ, GarrisTV@hotmail.com or 252-670-9955
– ANYTONE 588UV III Tri-Band Mobile Transceiver (144/220/440) complete
with the USB programming cable. Brand-new – (In Original Box) $249.00
– COMET CX-333 Tri-Band Base Antenna (144/220/440) Brand-new – (In
Original Packaging) $159.00
– JETSTREAM 30 AMP Compact Power Supply 25 AMP Continous – JTPS32MAB
Brand-New – (In Original Packaging). Professionally Added Qty 2X
Mounting screws to top case for mobile bracket mounting. $94.00
PARS CALENDAR:
* 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.
* Aug 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.
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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