PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) May 27, 2023 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-four PARS members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am
Saturday breakfast meeting chaired by President Mike Marsh, K4NLC, at
Brantley’s Village Restaurant.
* Awards and Upgrades: The group welcomed Dan Longnecker, a ham-to-be
from Alliance.
* Show and Tell: Bouvet confirmed! Dick Goodwin, K4JJW, showed off his
confirmation QSL card. He made one of the few North American contacts
with the much shortened DXpedition. Lor Kutchins, W3QA, brought in his
tiny Belica DX-Pro SDR all mode receiver. At his chair inside Brantleys
and with its short whip attached he easily picked up WWV from Ft.
Collins, CO.
* Mike delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally.
* AI4WL’s Propagation Report: Although yesterday’s NOAA report was
“low activity”, the Sun produced two bursts that resulted in short HF
blackouts for the sunlit parts of the US. So much for being “low”. The
90 day trailing average Solar Flux index is 153 and scattered M-class
flares will continue. The 6 meter band started to awake last week. A bit
late this year, single and double hop Es contacts into the Midwest were
reported. 6 meter propagation is quiet this a.m. Look for another
opportunity to work the Marshall Islands V7 this coming week. HF
conditions should be fair to good in the coming days.
* With the season soon to arrive, the National Hurricane Center is
conducting its annual test today. WinLink messages are encouraged in
addition to contacts on its two frequencies, 7.268 and 14.325 MHz.
* On behalf of Paul, Jim reported the N4PRS 30 day web site activity
remains steady with 149 visitors making a total of 323 visits. Most
visitors are from the US, followed by China, then the Russian
Federation…. hummm. Check out the updated N4PRS QRZ Web Page. It’s a
photo story of our club and its doings.
* ARES/Pamlico Communications Net: Given the Wednesday night nets are
practices for emergencies and normal net control operators may not be
available in an emergency, those that have been “regulars” will soon be
given the opportunity to call the net. The WinLink check-in practice
will be expanded. Lor offered that his WinLink training course could be
modified to fit our needs. More to come as details are worked.
* As for nets, Cody, KN4RFG, has offered to bring back a 10 Meter net.
Like our previous net, this one will focus on easing our new hams into
the world of HF. There seemed to be considerable interest.
* Bruce, K4ONC, advised that the Pamlico Communications Team will next
meet in July on a date to be determined. [The scope of the PCT is being
broadened to reflect the more technical and varied interests of the
group-ed.]
* Repeater update: Lor reported that work on the Kershaw repeater is
about done and the repeater should be back up shortly. Crackling noise
on the Arlington repeater has become a continuing irritant and more
recently, a “chugging” noise. It is believed some of the problem is in
the antenna and grounding systems combined with co-site interference.
Trouble shooting is in the offing.
* Fox Hunt: Due to this weekend’s nor-easter, the Fox Hunt was
postponed. It will now follow next month’s PARS meeting. A single leg is
planned with a staggered start. It begins around 1100 and ends 2 hours
later. Lunch will follow. Prizes will include a dual band antenna, a MFJ
dual time clock and Brantleys gift certificate. Contact Dick [address at
calendar below] to participate.
* Tommy Banks’ family has donated Tommy’s equipment for the benefit of
our Pamlico Radio Society. All of his station except his erected
antennas was collected by Bill, KR4LO, and Bruce, K4ONC, last week.
Appearing to be in excellent condition and complete, some pieces were
quickly tested and made available at the meeting at auction. Included
were 3 mobile VHF radios, two power supplies, and a number of books.
From the auction conducted by Bill, the club added $276 to its account.
Look for some high value items to be made available at future meetings
including an IC-756Pro3, Palstar limit Auto Tuner, AC-1500 amplifier and
more.
* Cody, drew the winning number for a Brantleys Gift Certificate; Tripp
Beasley, KI4KEB, took home a “PARS Coaster” crafted by Rick, NN2S.
* There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:10 am.
ARRL MEMBER DUES SURVEY — Last Chance, Three Days Left
Our ARRL members are urged to participate in the Dues Survey which is
running until May 31. Your input is important. Responses will help guide
the future of ARRL. Revenue options and necessary By-Law changes are
expected to be discussed at the July 2023 ARRL Board meeting. To
participate, go to www.arrl.org and sign in. Then follow the “Dues
Survey” instructions posted near the top of the ARRL webpage.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending Sunday at 5 p.m. local. There are 7 numbered sunspot regions on
the Sun facing Earth. There were 8 last Monday, 7 the Monday before. The
Prediction Center expects solar activity to be moderate Monday through
Wednesday. There is a 10% chance for X-class and 55% chance for M-class
flares each day.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 157.
Last Sunday’s was 153. The index is predicted to measure 155 Monday, 155
Tuesday and 145 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was 153
yesterday. It was 153 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet Sunday. Conditions are expected to be
quiet Monday, quiet to active Tuesday, and then quiet to unsettled on
Wednesday.
In the near term, HF conditions are expected to range from poor to good
on 80 through 15 during the day, good at night. The best conditions
during the day and night are likely to be found on the 17 and 15 meter
bands. Twelve and 10 meters should be good during the day, poor at
night. Six meters is starting get active. dxmaps is showing lots of US
Es as I draft this at 1740 local Sunday.
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 ARLD021 DX news:
–MARSHALL ISLANDS, V7. Bob, N7XR is QRV as V7/N7XR from Kwajalein,
IOTA OC-028, and is QRV until the end of June. Activity is in his
spare time on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. QSL via
LoTW.
–MYANMAR, XZ. Akio, JE2QIZ is QRV as XZ2B from Yangon until the end
of September. Activity is on 15, 12, 10, and 6 meters using CW.
QSL via JE3SIF.
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
— d104 lollipop type-9volt-side key mic, found while exploring boxes of
equipment in my storage room, tested it, it works!…missing a screw or
two. $75.
— Icom IC 2300h 65w 2 meter mobile is out of production. It will be
replaced with IC 3500h with enhanced feature and price (+$50). Very few
2300s left. Contact Danny Lupton at idlupton@bizec.rr.com (20230515)
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:
* Jun 24, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
* Jun 24, PARS FOX HUNT, Saturday, 11am, Oriental VFD Station 19 on
Straight Rd. For more info and to sign up, contact Dick Goodwin, K4JJW,
rgoodwin41@suddenlink.
* July-date to be determined, 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
* Jul 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
REPEATER/NODE STATUS
(See www.n4prs.org/frequencies/ for set-up)
N4ONC VHF FM Oriental — Down for maint/upgrade.
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
On this and every Memorial Day we honor the sacrifices of fallen service
men and women who put their lives on the line for our nation. Please
take a pause in your day to remember those who gave everything for us.
73, Jim AI4WL
——–
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