PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
It’s hard to believe but the calendar has turned over another page and
it’s now October. The weather is much more comfortable for doing
antenna work, and we are moving into the contest season. I know some
hams dislike contests and contesters, and some of that may be justified,
but I think the larger ham radio community fails to recognize the value
of contesting beyond the competitive aspects. They figure it’s not
worth the time, expense, and effort because only a handful of the
hundreds or thousands of participants score near the top. But contests
offer great opportunities to develop and sharpen your operating skills,
improve your station, increase your code speed, learn how to get the
most out of your radio, understand how your antenna systems work with
respect to distance and direction, add needed contacts for various
awards, enhance your knowledge of propagation, and, well, the list goes
on and on. And don’t be shy about submitting your log. It’s always fun
to see your call in the results wherever they are published, and the
logs are useful for score checking by the organizers. I quit
competitive contesting a quarter century ago, but I still work several
contests every year, even if it’s only for an hour or two. …_._ de
WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
UPCOMING ARRL ROANOKE DIVISION ELECTION
Within a few days, ARRL members in the Roanoke Division will receive
their ballots to decide who will become the next Division Director. This
is a particularly important election that will help determine the future
direction of the ARRL. The ballots were to be mailed on October 1, 2021.
They must be completed and returned by Friday, November 19th. Please do
not wait until the last minute. Due to their recent changes the USPS
expects First Class letter delivery to take up to five days.
The candidates for our Director are the incumbent, George “Bud”
Hippisley, W2RU, of Penhook, Virginia, and challengers James Boehner,
N2ZZ, of Aiken, South Carolina, and Marvin Hoffman, WA4NC, of Boone,
North Carolina.
Last month as reported in last week’s PARSgram, those at our meeting via
Zoom PARS heard from Dr. Boehner. Dr. Boehner’s positions on what he
considers to be the major issues are on his qrz web page
www.qrz.com/db/nz22. Marvin Hoffman, our NC Section Director, also has
significant concerns regarding the future of the ARRL. He has outlined
his considerable experience and his concerns on his qrz page
www.qrz.com/db/wa4nc and summarized them on his personal web page
www.RoanokeARRLelection.com. Mr. Hippisley addresses his candidacy for
reelection at www.hams4roanoke.org.
We urge each of our members to take the time to review the information
offered by the candidates, decide who you think will be able to best
improve amateur radio for all of us, and then vote. –Jim, AI4WL, ed.
PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM UPDATE
From Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, Pamlico AuxComm Coordinator–
Pamlico County AuxComm Coordinator Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, called the PCT
meeting to order at 0905 hours on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at the
Florence-Whortonsville Fire Department. Including myself, eleven local
amateur radio operators were in attendance; Lor Kutchins, W3QA, Pamlico
County Dep. AUXC Coordinator; Gary Mitchelson, NC3Z, COML; Jim
Hartmeyer, AI4WL; Wayne Mulligan, K1CBI; Ben Barnett, KI4NSO; Matthew
Barnett, KN4RWC; Bill Olah, KR4LO; Joe Lupton, N4IBX; Kathryn Hitchcock,
KO4SVO; and Paul Manganaro, KO4MHM.
Everyone introduced themselves and provided their amateur radio
background and experiences. After the intros, the purpose of the PCT and
our expectations for the future were explained and discussed. That the
PCT was inclusive of all levels and expertise of amateur radio
operators. We are here primarily to learn and foster Emergency
Communications (EMCOM) within Pamlico County and along the way learn
from each other and have fun doing so. Further, I mentioned that the
weekly Wednesday night NET was in transition from just a RagChew to more
emphasis on training and EMCOM, and everyone was invited to participate.
From there the discussion turned to Lor Kutchins, who related to the
group the recent tower climb at the W4SLH repeater site. The 440Mhz
antenna was replaced with a new (used) DB-408 440 antenna on a
stand-off, at approx 252’. The final check of this antenna showed a
1.5:1 SWR. Future plans are to add a DMR 440 repeater to that antenna
and connect to the EHPC NC4ES network, similar to what we currently have
at the Florence-Whortonsville Fire Department.
The other tower work included reconnecting the feed line with a new
jumper and connector to the 220Mhz repeater control antenna. The old
jumper and connector had been separated from that antenna and just
hanging on a guy wire. However, after the reconnect, a direct short was
located approx. 25’ from the repeater. It was determined that water had
entered the feedline. Additional work is to be completed to ascertain if
that coax is usable.
Additional discussion centered around DMR (Digital Mobile Radios) with
Lor, Gary and Jim showing the operation of their DMR HT’s in relation to
the NC4ES Dashboard.
Lor, Gary and I then discussed future training ideas and asked for input
from the group. The expectations are we will present a six month
training calendar to cover a varied assortment of topics. In addition,
Lor mentioned that he is currently working on an exercise that will
include the Eastern Branch Coordination Center in Kinston and Pamlico
County.
The meeting ended with a show and tell of a couple “Go Kits” that can be
used for EMCOM Exercises and Incidents.
Meeting adjourned at 12 noon.
The next Pamlico Communication Team meeting is scheduled for Saturday,
November 6, 2021 at 0900 hrs at the Florence-Whortonsville FD. If the
PCT sounds like something you would be interested in, please join us.
Bruce Perkins – K4ONC
Pamlico AUXC Coordinator
k4onc@aol.com
THE MAYSVILLE HAMFEST HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY CANCELLED AS OF 4 OCTOBER 2021 PER DANNY GARRIS. ILLNESS FORCES THIS DECISION.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was low during the 24 hour period ending
yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The largest solar event was a C1 event at
03/0722Z. There are three NOAA reported numbered sunspot regions on the
Sun facing Earth this morning. The Prediction Center expects solar
activity to be very low through Wednesday. On Sunday the observed Solar
Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 86. (Last Sunday it was 86.) The index
is predicted to measure 88 today, tomorrow and on Wednesday. The SFI 90
day trailing average is 82.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. NOAA expects
conditions to be quiet today, then quiet to unsettled Tuesday and
Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 1 reported at 8 a.m. local this
morning reflects our current quiet geomagnetic conditions.
We can expect fair to good operating conditions today on 80 and 40
meters, fair on 30 and 20, and poor on the higher bands, no change from
last Monday. The VHF bands are expected to remain quiet.
Spaceweather.com reported yesterday, Sunday, that the sunspot counts for
September were the highest in five years. Their experts also note that
that for the 11th month in a row the sunspot number has been
significantly higher than predicted. These numbers indicate a stronger
cycle than predicted and with an earlier peak than expected, perhaps in
late 2024 instead of Fall 2025.
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
I have some significant health issues recently and desire to sell the
remaining ham gear. I have a used but working Icom IC7000 and the LDG
LT-100 Autotuner, also a VHF SWR meter, and several antennas. Priced at
whatever is fair.
But I have a special request along with this:
I have a 135′ longwire fed with twin line between two trees in front and
side yards. The antenna has been lowered slightly for wind resistance.
When it was installed, I had stainless pulleys arranged with parachute
cord on the trees so that the system could be lowered. The twin line
goes to a balun that is mounted on the roof, thence to a coaxial feed
line that connects at the side of the home. There is also a 2 meter/440
J-pole antenna mounted on the roof on a tripod mount. I’d like someone
(maybe the buyer?) to take these down, so that any risk of lightning
damage would be reduced. The system is grounded and there is a long
feed-through on a window sill for the HF antenna, and the VHF runs
smaller coax through the window. I put all this up a decade or so ago,
when I was able to do the work.
There is also a J-pole on my shop building behind the home that would
be available. The building is lower, so there would not be as much risk.
A small metal roof shed just behind the shop has a mobile mount with a
102″ whip plus an extension that was resonant on about 17 meters.
Available, just leave the part of the mount that covers the hole in the
roof of the shed.
Jim Cason, AC4JC, phone 252 636 0407, email jlcason@gmail.com, 4703
Carolina Avenue, Trent Woods, NC 28562 (20211003)
* For Sale: Icom IC-746PRO HF plus 6 and 2 meters, SSB, AM, FM, CW 100
watt transceiver. Tested for full power output on all bands. Includes
hand mic and original manual. $500, plus shipping if necessary. This
radio was donated to PARS, and proceeds will go to the club. Contact
Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or 252-671-6703, drmichne73@gmail.com.
(20210913)
PARS CALENDAR:
* 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.
* Nov 27, 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 Communications Net (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
ABOUT THE PARSgram
The PARSgram is a weekly email publication for members of the Pamlico
Amateur Radio Society (PARS), an association of amateur radio operators
located in, near, or from Pamlico County, North Carolina. The PARSgram
contains announcements and information about current and planned
activities of the Society and other items of specific interest to its
members. Except to summarize information related to Solar Activity and
announce expeditions of amateur radio operators to unique distant
places, special event stations, and contests, it does not generally
repeat information available elsewhere. The PARSgram offers a means to
make known to its subscribers radio equipment and other related items
for sale or trade. Since PARS members may have limited internet access,
the PARSgram has no attachments and kept relatively short. Log on to
the PARS Website at https://www.n4prs.org/ for longer news articles,
photos, archived PARSgrams and more. We are always looking for items of
specific interest to our members to put in the PARSgram. If you run
across a timely item or think of something you think would interest our
folks, please send it to me at jth350@embarqmail.com. (20181105)
73, Jim AI4WL