PARS’ HOLIDAY BREAKFAST MEETING AND “GIFT” EXCHANGE THIS MONTH
For our final gathering of the year the business agenda will be short.
The “program” that follows will be our annual exchange of small gifts.
These presents should be related to ham radio in some way, but please,
no cans of ham. Put your imagination to work. Check out your junk box,
look around your shack for stuff that works but you no longer need. Make
something. See what you can find, then wrap it and bring it to the
meeting. If you buy something, please don’t spend much more than ten
bucks or so. Exchange your gift for a number. After your number is
called, go through the pile of gifts and pick one. If you already have a
widget like the one you unwrapped, swap it for something else. It’s fun!
See you at the meeting on Saturday, December 30th at 9 am, in the back
room of Brantley’s Village Restaurant in Oriental. This a family affair.
Spouses and kids are invited to join us for breakfast and the fun. Of
course, there is no need for them to bring a gift to exchange. And if
you forget a “gift”, not to worry, come anyway, eat and enjoy the show.
BITS FROM THE DECEMBER PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING
– The wednesday night Pamlico Communications Net (PCN) net control will
start a rotating cycle in January. Bruce, K4ONC, will take January, Jim
AI4WL, February.
– Appears the new but problematic Oriental repeater controller is to be
returned to the manufacturer. A less capable controller may be installed
while awaiting a response.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be low today through Wednesday. There is a
chance for M-class flares each day. There are 8 numbered sunspot regions
on the Sun are facing Earth this morning. There were 11 last Monday, 3
the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 139.
Last Sunday’s was 180. The index is predicted to measure 136 today, 134
Tuesday and 130 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was 151
yesterday. It was 149 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled Sunday. The SWPC expects
the field to reach major storm (G2)levels today, minor storm levels
Tuesday and then active Wednesday. According to spaceweather.com, a
high-speed stream of solar wind is expected to hit today then, tomorrow,
the Earth could receive a glancing blow from a CME. The planetary
K-index at 7 am this morning was 2.67 indicating quiet conditions.
Today and tomorrow, despite the storm forecast, propagation is expected
to be fair on the 80 through 40 meter bands during the day, good at
night. Good conditions during both day and night are expected for the
30 through 15 meter bands. Ten and 12 propagation is predicted to be
fair day, poor at night. Give them a try…
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 ARLD048 DX news:
–VIET NAM, 3W. Jacek, SP5APW is QRV as 3W9C from Con Son Island,
IOTA AS-130, until December 9. Activity is on 20, 17, 15, 10, and 6
meters using SSB and FT8. QSL to home call.
–EASTER ISLAND, CE0. Jorge, CE0YHF is QRV until December 10 while
working at a hospital on Pascua Island, IOTA SA-001. Activity is in
his spare time on 30 to 6 meters using some CW and SSB, but mostly
FT8.
–EAST KIRIBATI, T32. Members of the Rebel DX Group are QRV as T32TT
from Christmas Island, IOTA OC-024, until December 21. Activity is
on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4. QSL via OQRS.
–COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS, VK9C. Yuris, YL2GM and Eugene, EA5EL are
QRV as VK9CY until December 7. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters with
two stations 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. Thanks, Jim.
–FOR SALE: K9AY low band receive antenna for 160-40m, just in time
for the fall/winter low band DX season. $110. Price includes a four
direction control box (N-E-S-W), exterior weatherproof direction
switching relay box w/connector, two 85’ wire loop elements (#18
insulated stranded Cu clad), insulators, installation instructions and
schematic diagram. It requires a single 25’ support such as a pole or
tree limb, and about 18’ radius for the loops. It’s ready to install,
good condition and fully checked out. Just add your own RG-59 feedline
and Cat 5 control cable. Dick Goodwin K4JJW rgoodwin41@suddenlink.net
252-633-7873 (20231113)
–FOR SALE ICOM IC-735 HF Transceiver. Used. Working. Missing the
plastic cover over the slider controls. $225. Contact Jan, KK4LSQ,
252-239-3953 or kk4lsq.onc@gmail.com (20231016)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Dec 30, PARS MONTHLY MEETING and Holiday Gift Exchange, Saturday, 9am,
Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bruce
Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Jan 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
REPEATER/NODE STATUS
(See www.n4prs.org/frequencies/ for set-up)
N4ONC (“Above Average”) VHF FM Oriental — Down for repair.
N4ONC (old KR4LO) UHF FM Oriental — Operational. Please ID.
NC4ES VHF FM/DMR Arapahoe — Operational
NC4ES UHF DMR Florence — Operational
WM3X-ONC VHF C4FM/WIRES-X NODE Oriental (145.530 simplex)– Operational
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Mondays, “Pamlico 10 Meter Net, 7:30 pm local, on or near 28.464 MHz,
USB. A non-directed net open to technicians and above. Radio
topics/questions/issues welcomed.
* Wednesdays,”Pamlico Communications Net”, 7:30 pm local, N4ONC
(Oriental) VHF Repeater, 147.210+ (CTSCC Tone Squelch 88.5). A directed
net open to all. Net activates on call during emergencies. While N4ONC
VHF is under repair this net meets on the Arapahoe repeater 147.285+
(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 Editor
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