PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) Jan 29, 2020 MEETING NOTES
* Eleven intrepid PARS members braved the cold blustery wind and snow
showers to attend the 9 am breakfast meeting chaired by President Mike
Marsh, K4NLC, at Brantley’s Village Restaurant.
* Dick, K4JJW, announced his station will be a bonus station during the
NC QSO Party coming up Sunday, Feb 27th. His call will appropriately be
“N4E”. [You might remember, Dick did a two-county swing in Pamlico and
Craven by himself last year placing second in the DXpedition category.]
* Mike presented Wally’s treasurer’s report. Dues are slowly coming
in; the club is solvent. There is a big expenditure coming up this month
for two new batteries, solar panels, controller and other items needed
to replace the old solar power equipment at the Kershaw repeater site.
* Jim, AI4WL, on behalf of under-the-weather-with-a-continuing-cough
Webmaster Paul, K4MMB, reported that the PARS Website has been running
“about average”. Paul says that this month there were about 160 visits
and 200 or so pages looked at. Paul also advised to be wary of
squirrels: one or more chewed through his LMR-400 feedline and Paul
ended up “transmitting to the worms.” The feedline has been fixed.
* Propagation Report: Solar activity was reported by NOAA to be low
even though there are 5 sunspot regions and a chance for M class flares.
The solar flux was 115 Friday bringing the 90 day average up to 97. The
geomagnetic field was reported to be unsettled. Conditions on the bands,
40M and above are good. The early morning gray line continues to offer
good DX on 40 into Asia.
* Mike, our PCN controller, reported 4 training sessions during the
month. Three non-exercise weather nets were called during the Jan 21-22
ice storm. The recent simplex tests on 2M and 70 cm. proved helpful in
sorting out individual equipment issues and the range of participating
stations. More of these tests are anticipated. Mike also advised that a
state-wide COMMEX, similar to that run in December for Eastern NC, will
be conducted on May 24th. Sign up to participate on NC TERMS.
* Bruce, K4ONC, our county AUXcomm lead, ran the the ice storm nets and
monitored the primary reporting repeater channel from early Friday
through Saturday noon. For each net, 12 to 15 operators checked in and
rendered situation/weather condition reports. These would be ready for
the Pamlico EC if conditions became severe and resulted in power or
communication service failures. Although dangerous icing developed and
bridges were closed, all utilities stayed up.
* Lor, W3QA updated the group on the replacement 2M repeater that has
both DMR and FM Analog capabilities. Fabrication was delayed for parts
and updated software. Once complete, operational tests will begin at the
Kershaw site. It will operate in both modes on the same frequency as the
current repeater. Additional CTCSS/DCS codes will be implemented to
prevent conflict.
* After covering PARS business, Mike then yielded the floor to Bill
Michne, W3MX for a discussion of the results of his statistical analysis
of participation and scores over the past five years. He opened by
posing the question: What do we want to do this year?
Bill had gathered data on the number of entries by class, number of
participants, level and type of activity by mode and more. He showed how
the pandemic and pandemic related rule changes in 2020 upped the active
operators 10 fold, reduced the number of “participants”–many
non-operating attendees–by almost half, and doubled the number of SSB
and at least tripled the number of digital contacts. He then outlined
what he saw as the several purposes of our field day events. An active
discussion followed. It appeared that the group agreed that PARS:
-Knows how to set up and operate under adverse conditions but does not
like doing it “in the rough”. Heat and humidity here is tough.
-That our field day as a “show-case” for the general public has mostly
been a failure, choice of venue/lack of visibility being a major factor.
-GOTA operation has been hit and miss. Few outside visitors means few
GOTA operators.
-The number of “participants” does not indicate the number of operating
seats filled. More come to socialize than to operate.
-We do not do well in getting youth and other groups–those that might
have an interest–to attend.
Given these conclusions, suggestions offered included:
-Look for opportunities for exposure other than at field day–go to the
public, not have the public come to us. Possibilities include Pamlico
Heritage Days, Croaker Fest.
-During the ARRL Field Day Weekend “focus on ourselves”: operate from
homes as single operators, as pairs or more; combine scores for the club
total; have our own contest between our stations.
-Search out ways to involve youth or other groups, Scouts, JROTC,
members of emergency services, etc.
Bill’s question was not answered. This discussion will continue.
* There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:40 am.
The wind was still cold but the Sun bright.
AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE EXAM SESSION MARCH 10, 2022
PARS will hold a license exam session on March 10 beginning at 6:30 PM
at Broad Creek Christian Church, 45 Olympia Rd, Olympia, NC. Please
register your intention to take an exam by emailing or calling Bill
Michne at drmichne73@ gmail.com or 252-671-6703.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was moderate during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. The largest solar event of the period
was a M1 flare observed at 29/2332Z from AR2936, a very large and active
sunspot region. There are 4 reported numbered sunspot regions on the Sun
facing Earth this morning. The Prediction Center expects solar activity
to be low today through Wednesday but still gives us a 40% chance for
M-class flares and a slight chance (1 in 10) for an X-class flare. On
Sunday the observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 130. (Last
Sunday it was 94.) The index is predicted to measure 132 today and
tomorrow and then 135 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is 97.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. For our
middle latitude, NOAA expects conditions to be quiet today, quiet to
unsettled Tuesday and then possibly reach minor storm levels on
Wednesday. The M1 class flare on the 29th generated a CME with its
effects to arrive Tuesday or Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 3
reported at 7 a.m. local this morning indicates quiet geomagnetic
conditions.
We can expect fair day and good nighttime operating conditions today on
80 and 40 meters and good on 30 through 15. Conditions will be fair day,
but poor nighttime, on 12 and 10.
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.
DX NEWS
Extracted from Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1551, Tedd Mirgliotta ed.–
CYPRUS, 5B. Philipp, DK6SP is QRV as 5B4AQC until July 27.
Activity is in his spare time on the HF bands. QSL to home call.
KC4, ANTARCTICA. Chris, W2RTO, has been recently active from the KC4USV
McMurdo Station, Ross Island (AN-011) on 20 meters SSB and FT8 around
0045z, 0630z, 1545z and 2130z. He will be there until the summer. Also
there is Tim, KG5SBS. QSL KC4USV via K7MT or LoTW.
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.
*GONE* Free Hex beam.
*WANTED* 6 Meter mobile whip antenna and or a multi band mobile antenna.
In anticipation of finishing the Lil Shaky radio Jeep. Clergyman’s
discount should be considered as I am but a lowly, humble website
attendant. Paul K4MMB, 561-308-3456, PARSwebman@gmail.com (20220103)
*FOR SALE* Astron RS-70M in pretty nice shape. $250 Gary Mitchelson,
NC3Z/4, nc3z.gary@gmail.com, 252-745-0655 (20211101)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Feb 5, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING, Saturday, 9am,
Florence-Whortonsville VFD. AUXCOMM & ARES–All are welcome. For more
info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Feb 26, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
* Mar 10, PARS license exam session, Thursday, 6:30 PM at Broad Creek
Christian Church, 45 Olympia Rd, Olympia, NC. Please register your
intention to take an exam by emailing or calling Bill Michne at
drmichne73@ gmail.com or 252-671-6703.
* Mar 26, 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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