PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS NET (PCN)
From Mike Marsh, K4NLC, PCN Net Control
The training for this Wednesday evening’s Pamlico Communications Net
will be a an open discussion about the DMR presentation – good or bad –
Lor presented at our Saturday meeting. We will attempt to answer
questions as best we can.
Everyone is encouraged to download the latest (2016) Auxiliary
Communications Field Operations Guide (AUXFOG) version 1.1 – June 2016
manual. It is a bit more hands-on that the NIFOG manual. Contains some
good information for sure:
https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/AUXFOG%20June%202016%20-%20508%20Reviewed%20-%20Final%20%282-16-17%29_0.pdf
We will focus on different topics presented in the AUXFOG in coming
sessions.
I’ll be listening for you all on Wednesday night @ 1930hrs on the
Oriental repeater N4ONC at 147.210MHz + (PL151.4)
Everyone please bear with me if I get a bit short-winded – still on the
mend.
Mike
Home/Office (252)636-1257 or
mike@MarshConsulting.org
PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING THIS SATURDAY, Nov 6
From Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, Pamlico AuxComm Coordinator–
The Pamlico Communications Team (PCT) will be meeting on Saturday,
November 6th, 0900hrs at the Florence-Whortonsville FD #25 on Florence
Rd in Merritt. We will be discussing and planning for our participation
in the EHPC (Eastern Healthcare Preparedness Coalition) COMMEX to be
held on Thursday, December 9th from 1000 to 1500 hours. We encourage you
to join us and take part as much or as little as you wish. A little
“new” knowledge can go a long way!
We will also have a DMR Mobile Radio, the Anytone D578UVIII Plus on
display and demonstration. This is the Mobile radio that was shown in
the PowerPoint presentation at last Saturday’s PARS meeting.
Everyone have a great week and above all Stay Safe!
Bruce Perkins – K4ONC
Pamlico Co. AuxComm Coordinator
K4ONC@aol.com
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) October 30, 2021 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-eight PARS members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am
breakfast meeting chaired by President Bill Michne, WM3X, at Brantley’s
Village Restaurant and three members participated via Zoom.
* After 60 years thinking about it, new member Dale Tilson, KO4UGA,
finally got his amateur radio license. Welcome Dale.
* Bill presented Wally’s treasurer’s report. The club is solvent.
Wally will begin sending out renewal notices in November.
* Propagation Report: Solar activity is reported to be moderate. Those
following YouTube reports by Dr. Tamitha Skov know of the X1 class flare
on Thursday. With the erupting region directly facing earth, a CME
generating S3 level storms and R2 level radio blackouts is expected
Saturday into Sunday. We have 4 sunspot regions today, one very active.
The solar flux yesterday was 106 bringing good propagation on 12 and 10
meters; at last month’s meeting it was 90. The geomagnetic field was
reported to be quiet but with a major storm expected.[ed note., the CME
produced only a glancing blow generating a S1 level ripple–it was a bust!]
* On PARSgrams, we are having intermittent problems with msn, hotmail,
yahoo and outlook ISPs. Looking at alternatives for the newsletter. They
are normally available on www.n4prs.org within a day of being emailed.
* Mike Marsh, K4NLC, our PCN coordinator, is looking at auxcomm
applications to our PCN/ARES and generally improving emergency
preparedness for those not deploying. Eyes on the ground are always needed.
* Paul, K4MMB, reported the club web site (www.n4prs.org) has been
averaging around 140 visitors per month looking at about 350 pages with
occasional spikes.
* Bill yielded the floor to Lor Kutchins for a two part presentation on
Digital Repeaters: “DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) for Emergency
Communications”, a YouTube video on DMR and its application to Emergency
Communications, and “The Future of Repeaters” focusing on the digital
revolution and its impact on Eastern North Carolina. The bottom line:
due to spectrum limitations, lower costs and many other reasons, the
future is digital. In NC alone, there are 19 P25 repeaters, 17 DStar
(Icom), 43 C4FM (Yaesu), 80 DMR, and 1 NXDI. Due to being
non-proprietary and of an open systems technology and low cost, DMR is
growing exponentially. LOR described the NC4ES DMR network, one of
several in the state proving emergency backup communications to
hospitals statewide, the connections between them and the flexible
bridging possibilities to connect with other digital systems and
networks worldwide.
* Bruce, K4ONC, our county AUXCOMM lead, reported on the change of
ownership of the “Oriental Repeater” to a group of five with Bruce as
the license “trustee”. This type of “ownership” should insure
continuity, maintenance and control, and sharing of the cost burden. The
group has already employed a licensed climber and replaced or repaired
all or part of the three antennas and feedlines (2M, 220 and 70 cm) on
the Kershaw tower with an eye on upgrading the now over 20 year old 2M
repeater to provide for both analog and digital modes. The NC4ES Network
DMR 70 cm repeater has been temporarily relocated from the FW VFD to the
Kershaw tower for test and coverage evaluation.
* Following the description by Bruce, K4ONC, of the newly formed
Oriental Repeater Group and their plans to establish a digital repeater
at the current repeater site, Bill, WM3X, made a proposal. The
improvements of the repeater functions, including both current
maintenance and future expansion to digital voice capability, would not
only benefit PARS, but also the area residents during an emergency. He
stressed, such improvements are not without costs, probably beyond what
the repeater group could come up with on their own. He then pointed out
that over the past several years PARS has accepted donations of used
radio equipment to be sold for the benefit of the club. Since January,
2015, sales of such equipment have netted just over $6,000, but the club
has used only a few hundred dollars. He proposed that the club use some
of this money to provide a grant of $2,500 to the repeater group to help
cover the costs of the planned upgrades. The money would be dispersed
as follows: an initial payment of $1,000 to cover expenses already
incurred followed by the balance paid as the improvements progress.
Additional grants could be considered in the future. The proposal was
put in the form of a motion offered by Wayne Mulligan, K1CBI. It was
passed unanimously.
* Bill, as the nominating committee of one, reported the officer slate
for 2022: Mike Marsh, President; incumbent Bruce Perkins, VP; incumbent
“Wally” Wallace, treasurer; and incumbent Jim Hartmeyer,
Secretary/Newsletter Editor. There were no nominations from the floor.
The slate was elected by acclamation.
* There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:43 am.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was low during the 24 hour period ending
yesterday at 5 p.m. local. Since then, at 0145Z 1 Nov, a M1 flare
erupted from AR2887. There are five reported numbered sunspot regions on
the Sun facing Earth this morning. The Prediction Center expects solar
activity to be low today through Wednesday but with a chance for M-class
flares each day. On Sunday the observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at
Penticton was 103. (Last Sunday it was 93.) The index is predicted to
measure 103 today, 102 tomorrow and 100 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day
trailing average is 85.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field reached minor storm levels (S1) yesterday.
NOAA expects conditions to be quiet to active today, quiet to unsettled
Tuesday, then quiet on Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 2 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, good on 30 and 20, fair on the higher bands. The VHF bands have
been mostly quiet but DXmaps shows some meteor scatter propagation.
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* Astron RS-70M in pretty nice shape. $250 Gary Mitchelson,
NC3Z/4, nc3z.gary@gmail.comb, 252-745-0655 (2021-11-01)
*FOR SALE* Yaesu FT-2000 from the estate of the original owner. This is
the 100 watt version. In evaluating this radio the frequency display
was found to be weak, and has been replaced with genuine Yaesu parts.
Otherwise, the radio is in full specification working order, and
includes the owner’s manual and associated schematic diagrams. It does
not include a microphone, but there are numerous commercial options.
$750. Prefer local pickup. Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175,
drmichne73@gmail.com. (20211025)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Nov 27, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
* Dec 18, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Wednesdays,”Pamlico Communications Net”, 7:30 pm local, 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
73, Jim AI4WL
——–
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