2023 THIRTEEN COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT
Dick Goodwin, K4JJW, talked about this annual special event at our last
PARS meeting. Now over, we heard that more than a few PARS members
participated… KR4LO, K4ONC, WA4GSI, KO4OJC, AI4WL and of course,
K4JJW. Did you? Let us know. We’ll make a list. Something else to talk
about at our next PARS meeting on July 29th.
2023 BIKE MS – HISTORIC NEW BERN RIDE
Danny Garris of NBARC, passed along the announcement of this year’s New
Bern ride. Bill Sanford, K4VHO, is again looking for Ham Radio Operators
to volunteer for the upcoming MS Bike-a-thon to be held on the second
weekend in September (Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 9-10, 2023). For those
that may be new to the area, this big two-day bike ride from New Bern
benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The event typically
attracts around 2000 riders. Mobile stations (“Support and Gear”, i.e,
SAGs) and Rest Stop stations are needed to cover 30-, 50-, 75-, and
100-mile routes each day. For more info and to sign up, go to
https://tinyurl.com/Bike-MS-Galaxy-Link-for-Hams Questions? Please
contact Bill Sanford – K4VHO (New Bern) at 252-671-7446,
net1.bikems@gmail.com, or Brian Young – KA9QJT (Raleigh) at
919-609-4664, ka9qjt@hotmail.com.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. There are 12 numbered sunspot regions
on the Sun facing Earth this morning. There were 7 last Monday, 13 the
Monday before.
Spaceweather.com reported that the average MONTHLY sunspot number in
June hit a 21-year high of 143.9. (The daily calculated sunspot number
bounces around a lot so the monthly number is much more meaningful.)
Spaceweather said the current Solar Cycle… “may be on pace to rival
some of the stronger cycles of the 20th century.” When will this cycle
peak? The pundits’ forecasts are mixed: first in 2025, then 2024, and
now some believe it will peak at the end of this year. BTW, today’s
number is 183.
The Prediction Center expects solar activity to be low through Wednesday
with a 35% chance for M-class flares each day. There was an M2-class
flare last night just before mid-night our time.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 179.
Last Sunday’s was 170. The index is predicted to measure 175 today, 175
Tuesday and 170 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was 158
yesterday. It was 156 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet Sunday. Conditions are expected to be
quiet today to unsettled today and Tuesday and then quiet on Wednesday.
The planetary K-index at 5 am this morning was 1 indicating quiet
conditions.
For the next few days, HF conditions are expected to be poor on 80
through 20 during the day, good at night. Like last Monday, the best
conditions during both day and night should be found on the 17 and 15
meter bands. Twelve and 10 meters should be good during the day, poor at
night. Six meter openings should continue. DXmaps showed lots of
activity including coast to coast multi-hop E-layer skip contacts at
8:15 pm Sunday evening. Dick, K4JJW was reported being heard by Iowa
station N0AN.
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 ARLD027 DX news:
–PAPUA NEW GUINEA, P2. Lowell, DU3LZ has been QRV for the past two
weeks as P29LZ. Listen for him on 40, 20 and 15 meters using SSB
and in the future on FT8.
–SABA, ST EUSTATIUS, PJ5. Operators PA4O and PE6Q will be QRV until
July 18 including activity in the IARU HF Championship. During the
Contest they will be operating as PJ5C. Outside the contest they
will use the calls PJ5/PA4O and PJ5/PE6Q, and be on 80 to 6 meters
using CW, SSB and FT8. QSOs will be uploaded to Club Log OQRS.
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.
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:
* 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
* Aug 5, 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
* Aug 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
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
73, Jim AI4WL
——–
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