PARS AT THE ORIENTAL BOAT SHOW
Chief operator Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, and QSO logger/official greeter
Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI, represented our Pamlico Amateur Radio Society
at a choice location for the annual Oriental Boat Show last
Saturday–about 75 feet from the main entrance. “Lil Shaky”, Paul’s
restored 1960 Willys Jeep mobile complete with a Yaesu FT-897 and very
prominent Scorpion screwdriver antenna was hard to miss. Now, we must
report that the location was great for viability but not so great for
operation. Unfortunately, a major power line was directly overhead and
HF contacts were few. No matter, the antique jeep with its occasional
sqawking noise did attract a number of visitors. It was good to see and
chat with not only the curious, but also also fellow hams from around
The County and beyond who “checked in” to say hello.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. There are 9 numbered sunspot regions
on the Sun facing Earth this morning. There were 2 last Monday, 4 the
Monday before. The sunspot number is 155. The Prediction Center expects
solar activity to be low today through Wednesday but with a 50-50 chance
for M-class flares.
Yesterday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was
- Last Sunday’s was 140. The index is predicted to measure 178 today,
170 tomorrow and 168 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was
164 yesterday. It was 168 last Monday.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected be
quiet to today through Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 2.00
reported at 5 a.m. local this morning indicates quiet geomagnetic
conditions.
Spaceweather.com reported last Thursday that our current Cycle 25 solar
maximum might come early, like late 2023 or early 2024. This is a year
earlier than most other forecasts. They base this forecast the work by
Scott McIntosh and others on the “Termination Event”, a relatively new
concept in solar physics. “It is a period of time on the sun as short as
one month when magnetic fields from one solar cycle abruptly die (they
are “terminated”) allowing magnetic fields from the next solar cycle to
take over.” The authors also anticipate that Cycle 25 could be twice as
strong at its peak than our previous cycle. It ended in December 2021.
For the details read the paper published in the January 2023 edition of
“Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences” at
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2023.1050523/full
In the near term, HF conditions are expected to be good during the night
on 80-15 Meters, fair to good during the day. The best conditions during
the day are likely to be found on 17-10 meters. Twelve and 10 meters
will be poor at night.
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 TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARLD015 DX news:
–TIMOR-LESTE, 4W. A group of operators are QRV as 4W1A until April
- Activity is on 40 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8.
QSL via DJ4MX.
–SOUTH COOK ISLAND, E5. Janusz, SP9FIH and Leszek, SP6CIK are QRV as
E51WEG and E51CIK, respectively, from Rarotonga, IOTA OC-013, until
April 28. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and
FT8. QSL to home calls.
–LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS, VU7. Operators YL2GM and VU2CDP will be QRV as
VU7W from Kavaratti Island, IOTA AS-011, from April 15 to 29.
Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. QSL via
YL2GN.
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
Send me your amateur radio related items that are for sale, trade, or
wanted and your contact information. 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: Two complete restored vintage stations. Plug and play,
ready to go as illustrated on K4JJW’s QRZ.com page. It’s not getting
enough use and I’m selling everything as a single package at a very
reasonable $1400 price, way under going market prices.
About 25 separate pieces of gear, all cables, manuals, spare tubes,
restoration notes, operating desk. Everything operates as it should.
Major gear…Johnson Ranger, EICO-720, Drake 2B, ICOM R71A, Digital VFO,
Timewave DSP, SDR/Uno SDR receiver, About 15 additional accessory
items, too much to list here.
Contact Dick Goodwin K4JJW at rgoodwin41@suddenlink.net or 252-633-7873
for a complete description and list via email. (20230417)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Apr 29, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
* May 6, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING, Saturday, 9-10:30am,
Oriental VFD Station 19 on Straight Rd vic. NC-55. All are welcome. For
more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* May 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
* May 27, PARS FOX HUNT, Saturday, Time TBD, Oriental VFD Station 19 on
Straight Rd. For more info and to sign up, contact Dick Goodwin, K4JJW,
rgoodwin41@suddenlink.
REPEATER/NODE STATUS
(See www.n4prs.org/frequencies/ for set-up)
N4ONC VHF FM Oriental — Operational
KR4LO UHF FM Oriental — Operational
NC4ES VHF FM/DMR Arapahoe — Operational
NC4ES UHF DMR Florence — Operational
WM3X-ONC VHF WIRES-X NODE Oriental — Operational
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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