PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) March 29, 2025 MEETING NOTES
The notes will be in next week’s PARSgram.
PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM (PCT) MEETING DATE CHANGE
The April PCT meeting scheduled for Saturday 5 April has been
tentatively changed to April 12th. The meeting will focus on Digital
Mobile Radio (DMR). We now have several nearby DMR repeaters, each
providing local communications as well as connectivity to wide area
networks, e.g NC4ES/EHPC, PRN. They support EMCOMM and regular amateur
use. Entry level transceivers are relatively inexpensive. A DMR net on
the Arapahoe local talk group is being planned. Bring your radio as well
as connecting cables if you need programming help. For more info,
contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
THE AURORA-NUTRIEN DMR REPEATER NOW OPERATIONAL
The new Nutrien (Aurora) tower off NC306 now sports an antenna for 440
meters and 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. Last week, the DMR repeater was added to the PRN network
of repeaters located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Learn about the PRN at www.ncprn.net. Setup details are also in the
Repeaterbook. John expects the FM/C4FM-Fusion repeater to be operational
by the end of April. He welcomes our use of these repeaters.
SO WHERE ARE THEY NOW? THE GREAT EASTERN BALLOON ‘ROUND-ABOUT CONTINUES
On its fifth lap around the world, 10 hours ago N4PRS (the Pamlico
Balloon) was halfway between the Hawaiian Islands and California
floating east at 94mph. It should be nearing the west coast this morning.
The Greenville balloon (NC4ES), on its fourth lap, was reported over
Bend, Oregon 12 hours ago traveling east at 46mph in much slower wind.
And Matt’s balloon, WU2V, when reported 4 hours ago, had passed over
southern Japan in good wind. Released only a couple of weeks ago, it is
on its second lap.
Get updates from Matt, WU2V/Chief Balloonist, and the links for tracking
the balloons at:
https://easternhpc.com/nc4es-pico-balloon-information-page/ and on his
EHPC Facebook page.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was high during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be moderate today with a slight chance for an
X-class flare and low on Tuesday and Wednesday with a 50% chance for
M-class flares.
There are 6 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 8 last Monday, 13 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 171,
last Sunday’s was 168. The index is predicted to measure 170 today, 175
Tuesday and 175 on Wednesday. The much more important SFI 90 day
trailing average was 180 yesterday. It was 187 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to be quiet to unsettled through Wednesday. The planetary
K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was 2.00 indicating quiet conditions.
Expect mostly good conditions for the next several days. Look for poor
conditions during the day on 80 to 40, 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. The six meter band is showing activity as the summer season
approaches, especially for FT-8/4 operators. Conditions can and will
change. Go to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD013 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–RODRIGUES ISLAND, 3B9. Operators David, OK6DJ, Palo, OK1CRM, and Ruda,
OK2ZA, and Milan, OK7GU will be QRV as 3B9DJ from March 24 to April 5.
Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8.
–SURINAME, PZ. A group of operators will be QRV as PZ5IP from
Papegaaien Island, IOTA SA-092, from April 1 to 4. Activity will be on
40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and various digital modes.
–MARSHALL ISLANDS, V7. Randall, KX4QD is QRV as V73HW for the next two
years. Activity is in his spare time on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters
using SSB and FT8.
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: SB 200 Amplifier by Heathkit. In very good working order
with two extra brand new tubes. Reliable 500-600 watts and can be pushed
for more. $400. Charlie WA4GSI, 919 210-5168. (20250310)
–FOR SALE: Kenwood TS-50 hf transceiver 80 thru 10, 100 watt with
external kenwood tuner $400. Contact Bob, WA2FIS, at 732-533-8387.
(20250113)
PARS CALENDAR:
* DATE CHANGED TO APR 12, 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
* APR 26, 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 (147.210MHz+ CTCSS 88.5Hz) — 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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