PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
We had a really good PARS meeting yesterday. VP Bruce, K4ONC, and Lor,
W3QA, led an informative discussion of the future of emergency
communication in the county, and the state. I won’t say anything here
about their plans as there is more detail than I can fit in this note,
and I would probably get some of it wrong anyway. I will say they are
looking for a variety of people to join them. If you have an interest
in emergency communications, give one of them a call and find out where
you might fit in. _…_ We also had a discussion of the updated
regulations regarding human exposure to RF energy. By May, 2023,
essentially all amateurs will have to conduct an evaluation of their
stations to determine if any combination of frequency, mode, power, and
antenna they are using results in exceeding the maximum exposure limits
that are in place. The evaluation is easy to do using the ARRL RF
Calculator, available on their website. We ran through several
evaluation scenarios, including VHF and UHF hand helds using rubber duck
antennas. For more information, see the article in the September QST,
and if you have any questions feel free to contact me and I’ll try to
help you out. …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175,
drmichne73@gmail.com.
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) August 28, 2021 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-two PARS members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am
breakfast meeting chaired by President Bill Michne, WM3X, at Brantley’s
Village Restaurant. One member participated via Zoom.
* Recent license preparation course graduate Kathryn Hitchcock received
her call sign, KO4SVO.
* Bill presented Wally’s treasurer’s report. The club is solvent. No
transactions this month.
* Propagation Report: Solar activity is reported to be low although
improved. We have 4 sunspot regions today, two very active, and had a M4
class flare this morning. The solar flux yesterday was 90; at last
month’s meeting it was 76. The 90 day average is 79. The geomagnetic
field was reported to be quiet to active with a minor storm expected.
The VHF bands are quiet with occasional openings.
* Reminder-weekly PARSgrams are normally available on www.n4prs.org
within a day of being emailed.
* Mike Marsh, K4NLC, our ARES coordinator, reported 4 net training
sessions in July for 13.29 mh. On Wednesday, Sep 1st, the 10 Meter SSB
connectivity test will be repeated after check-in. Members were
requested to revisit their set-up and use or fabricate a vertical
antenna if possible for the test on 28.450 MHz.
* Bruce, K4ONC, our new county AUXCOMM lead, is working toward
formalizing a “Pamlico Communications Team” consisting of AUXCOMM, ARES,
members and IT experts. ARES and AUXCOMM differ primarily in the level
of training. The latter can deploy or support the EOC other emergency
centers. ARES folks are the “eyes and ears” for ground-truth reports
during emergencies. Lor, W3QA, talked about developing an “Integrated
Preparedness Plan” to satisfy county communications needs. Bruce
reiterated the need for volunteers, whether they be they be the eyes to
provide situational awareness or deployable formally trained
communicators. Expect the Wed night ARES net to add a greater emphasis
on practice with different operating modes and on developing reporting
skills and more.
* Paul, K4MMB, reported the club web site (www.n4prs.org) had 137
visitors this month who looked at 328 pages; for the year, 1779
visitors. Forms for joining PARS and ARES are on the web site. Bill
noted that the 2021 membership will be free for those joining PARS
through the end of the year.
* The FCC is putting a much greater emphasis on evaluating RF exposure.
The “limits” have not changed but amateurs are no longer exempt from
conducting a formal eval. To that end ARRL has developed and published a
tool on the ARRL website to make it very easy, a “RF Exposure
Calculator.” Bill demonstrated the use of the calculator using examples
from his station. He recommends calculating the exposure of our worst
case configurations, be they 1500 watts on 6 meter RTTY using a 17
element yagi or a handheld running 5 watts, then printing and saving the
results… just in case…
* There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:16 am.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was low during the 24 hour period ending
yesterday at 5 p.m. local. There are two NOAA reported numbered sunspot
regions on the Sun facing Earth this morning. One (AR2860) is very large
and very active. The largest recent solar event was a C8-class solar
flare that erupted yesterday at 8:03 am local time. Smaller ones
followed. The Prediction Center expects solar activity to be low through
Wednesday but with a chance for M-class flares each day. On Sunday the
observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 89. (Last Sunday it was
77.) The index is predicted to measure 90 today, tomorrow, and on
Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average remains 79, the same as the
past five Mondays.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. NOAA expects
conditions to reach minor storm levels today and Wednesday, quiet to
unsettled on Tuesday. The estimated Kp-index of 2 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, good on 30 and 20, fair on 17 and 15, and poor on
the higher bands. The VHF bands have gone quiet in the US with only
occasional openings.
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.
* For Sale. SCS PTC-IIex Modem licensed with PACTOR III. This modem
functions as it should and comes with the installation guide, the USB to
RS232 cable and the CD. This modem was recently in use on my IC-7300,
until I upgraded. In very good condition and works great. The 9095 cable
available from Farallon Electronics or HRO. $550. Bruce, K4ONC@aol.com,
252-626-2730 (20210719)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Sep 25, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Oct 30, 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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