FOR THE 5 Mar 2025 WEDNESDAY NIGHT NET (PCN):
Please use the normal Winlink Net CHECK-IN form. Beaufort Bill, K2TNO,
will be net controller for the month of March. If I counted correctly,
there were 26 net check-ins and 20 Winlink check-ins for last
Wednesday’s (26 Feb) Pamlico Communications Net. That’s the highest
numbers in recent memory, certainly the highest number of Winlink
check-ins ever. Questions? Contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or
K4ONC@aol.com
PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
A good turn-out — sixteen signed in, late arrivals didn’t — at
last Saturday’s meeting at Station 19. Lor, W3QA, finished up his “how
to” sessions on Winlink. This meeting covered the most difficult issue
for most folks, the radio to computer connection needed to send and
receive Winlink messages over the air. So many different radios, so many
different computers and then there’s the downloading and set-up of the
VARA modem to make the messages fly. About half of the attendees were
Winlink HF knowledgeable. Stations were set with a variety of
transceivers. Those that had brought their laptops were helped through
the set-up process and are now Winlink HF ready.
But wait! There was more. Lor gave us a short intro to the world of
AI. As an example, he queried Google “Gemini Live”, about Winlink, and
asked it how to send a Winlink message. What an eye opener! Ask any
question; the more specific, the more detailed (and probably more
correct) the response. The tool can save countless hours to get an
answer without you doing an internet search, the tool does it for you.
Two AI tools to check out: https://aistudio.google.com and
https://perplexity.ai. “Perplexity AI is a conversational search engine
that uses large language models to answer queries using sources from the
web and cites links within the text response.”
So what’s for next month? How about Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) for
newbies. You can get good DMR HT around $75 or less. Our Arapahoe
repeater is a DMR repeater in the 17 repeater EHPC system with bridges
to other networks. Another DMR repeater is in Newport on the PRN system.
We’ll help you through the programming.
SO WHERE ARE THEY NOW? THE GREAT EASTERN BALLOON ‘ROUND-ABOUT CONTINUES
The most recent signals this morning (03/1118Z) reported from N4PRS (The
Pamlico Balloon) placed her over Pakastan northeast of Islamabad
heading ENE. She’s now riding along in a 167 mph wind. NC4ES at her last
report (03/1238Z) was still over the Atlantic in the Bay of Biscay just
above Spain. She’s in much much slower 12 mph winds that may cause her
to drift east into France near Bordeaux.
Get updates from Matt, WU2V/Chief Balloonist, and follow the high-flyers
at: https://easternhpc.com/nc4es-pico-balloon-information-page/
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 through Wednesday with 30% chance for
M-class flares.
There are 9 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 11 last Monday, 12 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 140,
last Sunday’s was 210. The index is predicted to measure 140 today, 140
Tuesday and 140 on Wednesday. The much more important SFI 90 day
trailing average was 190 yesterday. It was 193 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to be quiet to unsettled today and reach minor storm levels on
Tuesday and Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 7 a.m. this morning was
1.67 indicating quiet conditions.
Expect mostly good conditions to continue. Look for poor conditions
during the day on 80 to 40, fair to good at night; good day and night on
30 to 15; and good day, poor at night on 12 and 10M. Best on 15 and 17.
Go to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD009 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–NIGERIA, 5N. Members of the Rebel DX Group are QRV as 5N9DTG. Activity
is on 160 to 6 meters using FT8 and FT4 with Superfox and MSHV modes.
–COMOROS, D6. Elvira, IV3FSG will be QRV as D68Z from Moroni from March
3 to 18. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8,
and FT4.
–COCOS (KEELING) ISLAND, VK9C. A group of operators will be QRV as
VK9CU from March 4 to 11. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW,
SSB, RTTY, and other digital modes with three stations active around the
clock.
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: Kenwood TS-50 hf transceiver 80 thru 10, 100 watt with
external kenwood tuner $400. Also a 6Meter 3 element beam $50. Contact
Bob, WA2FIS, at 732-533-8387. (20250113)
PARS CALENDAR:
* MAR 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
* APR 5, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM (PCT) 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 VHF FM Oriental — Operational
N4ONC (old KR4LO) UHF FM Oriental — Down for repair/replacement.
NC4ES VHF DMR Arapahoe (NC4ES Network) (147.285MHz+ CC1) — Operational
NC4ES VHF FM Arapahoe (147.285MHz+CTCSS ENC 88.5Hz/DEC 100Hz)–Standby
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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