PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) MAY 25,2024 MEETING NOTES
* Nineteen members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am Saturday
breakfast meeting chaired by President Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, at
Brantley’s Village Restaurant.
* There were no upgrades or new licensees reported for the month.
* The Eastern Express pico balloon is spending a lot of time over
Russia. According to Bruce, after reaching the Russian Far East and
almost to the Sea of Okhotsk she now may have been turned around. She is
being taken south and back west by light winds. PARS members are invited
to the next ballooon launch. Some lucky member will get to release the
balloon,
* Bruce delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally. No
activity this month.
* AI4WL’s Propagation Report: After hearing Dick K4JJW announce the
Glorioso Island DXpedition going QRV on Friday (most wanted #7) and Bill
W2TNO’s, observation that the bands have not been good and then Dick
countering with 15 meters being wide open at 2 a.m. Jim just reported
that conditions are about the same as last week, hit and miss. He did
note that Sunspot region AR3663 is about to return. That’s the region
that caused all the flares and storms 2 weeks ago. Watch for more short
HF blackouts and geomagnetic storms. The 15 and 17 meter bands remain
the most reliable for DX propagation both day and night.
* Paul, K4MMB, reported the PARS Web site had 194 visitors. They looked
at about 150 pages during the past 30 days — below average. Paul made
the pilgrimage to Dayton and he has posted a photo report on the
“Hamfests” page.
* And Paul’s observations on Dayton: rainy, muddy, big (35,847
attended), lots of stuff tailgating, more and better stuff by vendors
inside the several big fairground buildings, and very expensive hotdogs.
But then he added some good signs: 1) there were long lines to sign up
for ARRL membership; 2) yes, an aging population but maybe 15 – 20 %
were under 30; 3) lots of new and varied interests, e.g. building cube
sats, remote control airplanes/robots, digital everywhere/everything;
and 4) major vendors’ equipment selling well. They are going SDR big time.
* ARES/PCN. Bruce thanked Beaufort Bill, W2TNO, for running the
Wednesday PCN nets in May. After not using WinLink for a long time, Bill
had a challenge in setting it up with his newer equipment. Wayne gave a
helping hand. His final check is at 7 pm. just before the net. He
reminded us, that if all else fails, you can get your email to loved
ones by WinLink. Wayne will take net control for June. Bruce reminded
the group of the EHPC COMMEX on 13 June. It will have 3 tracks, one for
hams/AUXCOMM. More info and to register go to NC TERMS
[https://terms.ncem.gov]. The next PCT meeting is Saturday, June 1st.
* The Hurricane forum orchestrated by the town of Oriental and PARS on
the 22nd went well. Presented by the NWS Newport, over 25 attended, 5
new to hurricanes.
* Equipment Auction. Bill Olah, KR4LO provided a list of donated
equipment for sale at auction. Proceeds go to PARS or to the Oriental
Repeater Group. This equipment, including transceivers and an amplifier,
has been tested and determined serviceable. The meeting date of 27 July
was proposed. This would be after circulating the list to other local
clubs and by PARSgram. There were questions raised as to the venue when
PARS hosted the auction… Station 19 firehouse or perhaps PCC. Whether
a reserve price should be set was another issue. In lively discussion,
other options for sale of these items (as well as those being tested and
stored by Bill Michne) to gain a wider audience were suggested: e.g.,
take them to RARSfest, or to the Maysville Hamfest. Wayne Beasley,
seconded by Bill Olah, made the motion to take the equipment to
Maysville if not sold at a prior auction. It passed. Bruce appointed an
“auction committee” comprised of Wayne (chairman), Paul K4MMB, and
Jeffery Cunniff to recommend a best approach and work out the details.
* Dick Goodwin K4JJW, had the winning number for a Brantleys Gift
Certificate; Eric Lind KG4ISY, a PARS coaster.
* There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:35 am.
WHERE IS SHE NOW? DAY 66 (or so)
Probably nearing the northern border with China. This is a guess. We
have not seen reports from the little Eastern Express balloon since
early Friday, the 24th. Light wind was then pushing her south and west.
Perhaps someone will report her signal later today. This 4th
circumnavigation has been tough….
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be low today through Wednesday with a chance
for M-class flares. However, at 0708Z this morning there was a X2 flare,
probably from AR3691 (old AR3663) now back from its 2 week trip around
the backside. It’s doubled in size since yesterday. R1 level HF
blackouts are expected. There are 7 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun
facing Earth this morning. There were 9 last Monday, 12 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 156,
last Sunday’s was 201. The index is predicted to measure 155 today, 155
Tuesday and 155 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was 168
yesterday. It was 168 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to be quiet to unsettled today and tomorrow, then quiet on
Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 8 a.m. this morning was 3.0
indicating quiet conditions but trending toward unsettled.
For the next several days, propagation is expected to be poor to fair
during the day, good at night on 80 to 20; good on 17 and 15, and good
day, poor night on 12 and 10M. No real change.
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 ARLD019 DX news and DX-World.net:
— LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS, VU7. Lal, VU7LAL is QRV from Agatti and
Kavarathi until May 31. Activity is on 40, 20, and 10 meters. QSL
direct.
— Glorioso Island, FT4GL QRV to Jun 18.The team is operating SSB, FT8
f/h, FT4, and RTTY. Glorioso is number 7 on Clublog’s most wanted list.
Expect big pile ups.
— Pitcairn Island, VP6DF, from May 30 to June 9.
— Lord Howe Island coming up Jun 14-24, VK9LA. Activity 160-10; CW, SSB
& FT8 planned. Number #63 most wanted.
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: Hy-Gain AV-640 Patriot 25.5ft HF 8-Band Antenna. This
antenna uses quarter wave stubs on 6, 10, 12, and 17 meters and loading
coil and capacity hats on 15, 20, 30 and 40 meters. No ground radials
are needed. Check full description online. Antenna is currently ground
mounted and I will assist in removing. $300 Bruce Perkins @252-626-2730
or K4ONC@aol.com. (20240429)
–FOR SALE:
- Kenwood TM-V71A Dual Band 2meters 440 $350
- Kenwood TM-281A $70
- TH 9000 Pi-Ps TYT Mobile with TYT Mike $70
Selling for a friend. All in good shape. Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI,
919-210-5168. (20240401)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Jun 1, 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
* Jun 22-23, ARRL Field Day, home operation. To add your score to that
of other PARS members for a combined club score, list your club
affiliation as “Pamlico Amateur Radio Society, LTD”. For more info,
contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Jun 29, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. 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 VHF FM Oriental — Operational
N4ONC (old KR4LO) UHF FM Oriental — Operational
NC4ES VHF FM/DMR Arapahoe — Operational/test. PL: Dec 100Hz/Enc 88.5Hz
NC4ES UHF DMR (NC4ES Network) 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 for 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.
* 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 Memorial Day, let us remember the bravery and sacrifice required
to protect our great democracy. Freedom isn’t free.
73, Jim AI4WL Editor
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