PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) October 26, 2024 MEETING NOTES
* Eighteen members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am Saturday
breakfast meeting chaired by Vice President Wayne Beasley, KO4OJC, at
Brantley’s Village Restaurant.
* There were no upgrades, awards or new licensees reported for the month.
* Wayne delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally.
* AI4WL’s Propagation Report: Moderate solar activity, quiet
geomagnetic field, both likely next several days. HF conditions should
be good across most bands day and night but poor during the day on
160-80 but fair to poor nighttime on 12 and 10. Except for several days
of brief TEP and possibly F2 prop into South America, six meter
propagation has been terrible. The 17 and 15 meter bands continue to be
the best choice. Ten meters has been open almost all night lately. DX
includes Madagascar, Ogasawara, Rodriques Isl., Vanuatu, Nauru, and Wake
Island.
* Wayne thanked Beaufort Bill, K2TNO,for calling the Pamlico
Communications Net (PCN) during the month. Wayne will take it in
November, Mike again in December. Others were encouraged to practice
being net controller. Help is offered, script and check-in list
provided. It’s easy. WinLink check-ins are slowly increasing. WinLink
proved its value after Hurricane Helene for transmitting Health and
Welfare messages, logistical support and more. Ad-Hoc and ARES repeater
nets carried much of the logistical support load for the heavily damaged
and isolated hamlets in the mountains.
* The next meeting of the “Pamlico Communications Team” is on Saturday,
November 1st at the Station 19 fire house. Discussion is always
wide-ranging–emergency communications, repeaters, digital, drill bit
sharpening, you name it. Join the group at Brantley’s for breakfast at
8am and then convoy over.
* Paul, K4MMB, reported a “healthy” 334 pages visited on the PARS Web
site during the past 30 days. Paul recommended mentioning the club web
page in your bio space on QRZ .
* This being the month for elections, Bill Michne, WM3X–our election
committee of one–called for nominations from the floor for the offices
of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. He advised that
the current officers were willing to stand for reelection, they being
Bruce Perkins, Wayne Beasley, Gail “Wally” Wallace, and Jim Hartmeyer,
respectively. As there was no response from the floor and no one had
responded to his notices in recent PARSgrams, he called for a motion to
re-elect the incumbents in their current offices by acclimation. Bill
Olah made the motion and it was seconded by Mike Marsh. It passed.
* Mike, K4NLC, commented that after days without phone service
following the hurricane, community nets using GMRS radios sprang up.
They provided the locals and helpers a way to communicate and
coordinate–reportedly a “life-saver” for some. A short discussion on
GMRS followed.
* The new Nutrien (Aurora) tower off NC306 now sports an antenna for
440 meters and soon another for 2 meters. Nutrien’s John Johnson,
KE4TZN, is behind the effort for the two repeaters: a 440 repeater to
operate in the DMR mode on the PRN (NC & SC) network and a 2M repeater
to operate FM/C4FM-Fusion. Due to issues with the 440 repeater, the
Yaesu repeater is temporarily operating on the 440 frequency (440.55000
MHz,+, PL 131.8 Hz) in its native FM/C4FM modes. John welcomes us to use
these machines and would like to hear reports on range and quality.
Details are in the Repeaterbook.
* Wayne noted that the weekly net on 10 meters is a good opportunity to
test equipment, and for new hams, a good opportunity to learn and
practice skills for HF operation.
* Bill, KR4LO, advised that a little over $300 was gained from sale of
donated “junk” and other items at the Maysville Hamfest. The residue
will be recycled.
* Wayne reminded members that the December meeting is really a gift
exchange–bring one and get one. It is recommended that all “new” gifts
be of a nominal $15 value. Gifts can be out of the “junk” box, under
used or just not wanted. No Hormel Hams please.
* Brian Shepard,K4LTE, had the winning number for a Brantleys Gift
Certificate.
* There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:56 am.
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 moderate today through Wednesday with a 1
in 4 chance for X-class flares.
There are 12 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 8 last Monday, 7 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 246,
last Sunday’s was 162. The index is predicted to measure 245 today, 245
Tuesday and 245 on Wednesday. The much more important SFI 90 day
trailing average was 220 yesterday. It was 220 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to be at active to major storm levels today, unsettled to
minor storm levels Tuesday, and quiet to unsettled on Wednesday. The
planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was 4.67 indicating unsettled
conditions. A CME propelled toward Earth by Saturday’s X1.8-class solar
flare has arrived.
Expect propagation to be about the same as last week: poor during the
day on 80 to 40, good at night; good day and night on 30 to 15; and good
day, poor night on 12 and 10M. Go to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/
for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD040 DX news:
–MADAGASCAR, 5R. Janusz, SP9FIH and Leszek, SP6CIK are QRV as 5R8WE and
5R8CI, respectively, from Nosy Be Island, IOTA AF-057, until November 6.
Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8, including
SuperFox mode. Plans are to emphasize activity on 10 and 12 meters. QSL
via Club Log.
–ESWATINI (KINGDOM OF), 3DA. A group of operators are QRV as 3DA0DL
until November 9. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and
various digital modes. QSL via DL7UFR.
–MALAWI, 7Q. A group of operators are QRV as 7Q1 from Lilongwe until
November 2. QSL via EA7FTR.
–WAKE ISLAND, KH9. Tom, NL7RR is QRV as NL7RR/KH9 until November 11.
Activity is in his spare time, around 0600 to 0800z, on 20 meters using
SSB. QSL via LoTW.
—Also this month: Marshall Islands, Chatham Islands, Ogasawara and more.
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 if your listing is no longer needed. Listings
will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise. Thanks, Jim.
–FOR SALE Pneumatic Launcher. Complete with detailed instructions,
spinning reel, extra projectiles and swivels. This device will put a
fishing line, 20 lb test over a tree 100 feet tall. Includes spinning
reel. Air pump or compressor not included. Eight available. Contact
Wayne for more details or photos. Price $197. ea. [Demonstrated at the
July PARS meeting–ed.] Contact Wayne Estabrooks,KB1WE, at
westabro@earthlink.net or at H (252) 833-4497, Cell (919) 218-4012
(20240729)(20241013)
PARS CALENDAR:
* NOV 2, 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
* NOV 30, 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. PL: ENC 88.5Hz/DEC 100Hz
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 WEBSITE: https://www.n4prs.org/
Our Web Master is Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, PARSwebman@gmail.com
73, Jim AI4WL Editor
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