DROPPED BITS–
* The date of our January meeting was obviously not in October but on
January 28, 2023. That’s what I get for being lazy and not checking the
boiler plate for the MEETING NOTES in last week’s PARSgram.
* Also, Bill, KR4LO, reminded me that the Oriental and Arapahoe
repeater solar power systems use lithium iron phosphate (LiFEPO4)
batteries made by Chins, not lithium dioxide batteries as I reported in
those same NOTES. You can read about these batteries at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery. They are
the batteries that do not like being charged in freezing temperatures.
PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING THIS COMING SATURDAY
The Pamlico Communications Team meeting originally scheduled for last
Saturday, February 4th, has been rescheduled for this coming Saturday,
February 11th, 9a.m., at the Oriental Volunteer Fire Station 19 on
Straight Road. All are welcome. The focus will be on DMR and the growing
NC4ES and PRN networks, digital repeaters, codeplugs and more. Bring
your DMR radio if you need help. For more information contact Bruce
Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com.
NC QSO PARTY COMING UP
We were also reminded by Marv Hoffman, WA4NC, our NC Section manager
that the big (for us) NC QSO Party is coming up this month. In his Jan
15th Newsletter, Marv wrote: “Once again this year, the NC ARRL SECTION
will again be one of the sponsors of the NC QSO Party which is organized
by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society. The NCQP will be held on [Sunday]
February 26, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Participants attempt to contact
stations in the various NC Counties and earn points for the power used
in making the contacts. Information about the event and NCQP rules can
be found at https://ncqsoparty.org/ .” This year the 120th anniversary
of the Wright Brothers first flight is being recognized. Consider
playing. Being from a “most wanted” County, you find it’s fun to be on
the other end of a pile up.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. The largest solar event was a C6
flare. There are 5 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 6 last Monday. The Prediction Center expects solar
activity to be low today through Wednesday with a slight chance (10%)
for M-class flares. That might change. Spaceweather.com reports a new
and potentially large sunspot is emerging. More and stronger
earth-facing flares are anticipated.
Yesterday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was
- Last Sunday’s was 137. The index is predicted to measure 150 today,
160 tomorrow and 155 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was
153 yesterday. It was 152 last Monday.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet to unsettled today, quiet to active Tuesday and Wednesday. The
estimated Kp-index of 2.67 reported at 4 a.m. local this morning
indicated quiet geomagnetic conditions.
For today, we can expect good operating conditions on 80 through 15
meters and fair day and poor night conditions 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 THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARLD005 DX news:
BOUVET, 3Y. A large group of operators will be QRV as 3Y0J. Activity
will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and FT8. Bouvet is #2 on the
Club Log most wanted list. QSL via M0OXO.
EAST MALAYSIA, 9M6. Operators 9M8LJW, 9W8VYY, 9W8AKN, 9W8ZAL,
9W8ERY, 9W8EDY and 9W8AAZ are QRV as 9M8SOTA from the mountains in
Sarawak. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters, including 60 meters, using
CW, SSB, and FT8. Their length of stay is unknown. QSL via LoTW.
NEPAL, 9N. Robert, S53R is QRV as 9N7AA from Kathmandu and is
active on 30, 12, and 10 meters. He has been active using FT8 on 30
meters between 1100 to 1400z. QSL direct to S57DX.
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: Ameritron AL-811 3 tube has new 572b tubes. It works but
needs some work, possibly just some cleaning. I have extra 811 tubes
some might be good that can go with it. $400 obo. Cody Vanhook, KN4RFG,
can call or text (252) 229-4542 (20221212)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Feb 11, rescheduled PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING, Saturday,
9-10:30am, Oriental VFD Station 19 on Straight Rd vic. NC-55. AUXCOMM &
ARES–All are welcome. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Feb 25, 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, N4ONC
(Oriental) Repeater, 147.210 + (CTSCC Tone Squelch 88.5).
* 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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