PARSgram 2016-12-12

PARS HOLIDAY BREAKFAST MEETING AND “GIFT” EXCHANGE THIS MONTH
For this final gathering of the year, the “program” will be the exchange of small gifts not to exceed $10 or so in value.  These presents should be related to ham radio in some way.  Put your imagination to work, see what you can find then wrap it and bring it to the meeting. Exchange it for a number. After your number is called, go through the pile and make your choice, then comes “show and tell”.  If you already have a widget like the one you unwrapped, swap it for something else.  It’s a fun time.  See you at the meeting on New Year’s Eve morning, Saturday, December 31st, 9 am, at 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 watch the show. Bill has more on this annual event…

CHRISTMAS GIFT EXCHANGE IDEAS
From Bill Michne, WM3X: We’re about three weeks from our club Christmas gift exchange, plenty of time to shop around for ham radio related gifts.  Here are a couple of ideas.  ARRL sells a lot of really good books on a variety of subjects besides the license manuals.  They also have gift certificates available in denominations as low as $10 that can be put toward the purchase of anything in their store, including the books.  Another great trinket shop is www.allelectronics.com.  They have lots of electronics related parts, tools, etc., all at reasonable prices, and their shipping is fast and won’t break the bank.  You can also find a lot of stuff on amazon.com.  This is especially good if you are an Amazon Prime member as you get free shipping on a lot of stuff.  If you are not a Prime member you can still get the free shipping benefit by signing up for a free 30 day trial membership, and cancelling before the full membership kicks in.  Happy shopping!

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Wally mailed PARS renewal forms to all current members a couple of weeks ago. You should have received yours by now.  The package includes a form to renew your American Amateur Radio Relay League membership.  Wally makes it easy for us and you can do both with one check. Remember, if you renew through  PARS, we are able to retain two dollars of your ARRL renewal for PARS’ operations.

If you are not currently a member of the Pamlico Amateur Radio Society  (PARS) and wish to become one please contact our Treasurer, Wally Wallace ,  KK4ASP, at 410–804-1750 or send her an email at wallandwill@gmail.com.  She will happily send you those membership materials.  Applications will also be available at the monthly meeting.

AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT
As some of you may already know, the Amateur Radio Parity Act, passed unanimously by the US  House of Representatives, died in the Senate.  It never came to the floor for  vote due to the intervention of a single Senator from Florida who opposed the bill.  It is expected that the legislation will be reintroduced in both the House and Senate during the 115th Congress early next year.

We thank those PARS members and other readers of the PARSgram who contacted their congressmen urging support for the bill.  Unfortunately, we will need to do it again in the coming months.

BIT BUCKET–
*  Last week’s PARSgram was incorrectly dated in the subject line.  The subject should have been “PARSgram 2016-12-5″. For those that care, we’re sorry.
*  On those PARS renewal forms, please don’t forget to check the blocks indicating your interests. You can also write on the form topics you would like to learn more about at meetings. PARS can be more than just a monthly ‘breakfast club”.
*  We may want to try the contesting ELMER thing again, especially since we are now listed as an ARRL “contesting club”. Perhaps during the
ARRL January VHF Contest (21-23 Jan.) willing Elmers and new hams can get together for a couple hours of mentored operating. Big scores are not the goal, just fun. Of course Elmers, this means you need to do something about an appropriate antenna for 6 and or 2 Meters.

SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was very low during the 24 hours ending yesterday at 5 pm local. The most recent significant activity was a A1 flare at 0654Z this morning. There is but 1 sunspot region on the disk facing Earth this morning and it is about to rotate away.  The sunspot number (SSN) is 13, a drop from the 37 we reported last Monday. We have had 26 days without sunspots so far this year.  The Solar Flux Index (SFI) is 71, down from the 82 recorded at Penticton Sunday a week ago.  According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, solar activity is expected to be very low for the next three days with a slight chance for C-class flares today through Wednesday. The NOAA forecast has the SFI slowly rising  to 75 on Wednesday.  The 90 day trailing average is 82.

The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. As the earth is exiting a stream of solar wind, the field is forecast to be quiet to unsettled today and then quiet each day through Wednesday.  The Kp-index was reported to be a quiet 1 at 7 a.m. local this morning.

Expect fair conditions on 30 and 20 Meters, poor on the higher bands. Poor conditions are expected on 80 and 40, during the day and fair at night.  The Geminid meteor shower peaks this week offering opportunities for meteor burst communications on the higher bands.

Although the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) was above 60 MHz for periods all week long, very little activity was reported on the VHF bands.  However, E layer propagation, often the reason for 6 Meter long distance contacts, did make a showing during the 10 Meter contest over the weekend.  As you may remember, the 10 Meter band has the characteristics of both HF and VHF.  During periods of weak solar activity, it can be more like VHF than HF.  In Whortonsville, the band appeared quiet except from late morning through early evening.  Even then, only a handfull of signals could be heard during any given spin of the dial.  Stations on runs were fleeting as their signals were short lived.  Signals rose from the noise to S-9 and back down again within minutes.  Trans Equatorial Propagation (TEP) was also evident.  After exchanges with DX stations giving high sequence numbers–into the thousands, it appears that the big scores were to be made by South American Stations working into the lower US.  Of course, the big winners were those of us that were there just to have a good time!

THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. Mikhail, VE7ACN will sign VP5/VE7ACN from Grand Turk Island (NA-003) from December 10 to 19 on the HF bands using CW and SSB. QSL via VE7ACN, LoTW.  [This should be another easy one–ed.]

QSO CORNER

This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.

Nada!

OTHER ACTIVITY ON THE RADIO:
This info is extracted from the ARRL Letter, from the WA7BNM Contest Calendar, the ARRL Contest Update or the ARRL Contest Corral.  You can receive the Letter weekly via email as a member of ARRL

*  17/1500-18/1500Z Dec    1.8 MHz    Stew Perry Topband Challenge, CW
*  18/1800-18/2359Z Dec    3.5-50        ARRL Rookie Roundup, CW

See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update/ and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar  <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event Station Web page<http://www.arrl.org/special-events>. For a LIST OF STATE QSO PARTIES, see http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/stateparties.html. (State QSO  parties are a great way to get those last states for your Worked All States (WAS) Award.)

HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
——————————————————————–
*  FOR SALE: Yasesu FT- DX3000
A perfect “10”. Only used lightly by a little old lady on Sunday. I am upgrading and would love to see you have this rig. I hate to part with it but I just purchased a FTDX5000. This is just not the basic rig that others are selling—here is what you get, Like new radio, optional 300 hz cw filter, optional DVS 6 Voice unit, FH-2 touch pad, Hand mic, SP-2000 external speaker w/filters, Nifty Mini-Manual, box and radio manual. I have well over $2200.00 invested. I’ll let it go for $1995.00 $1795, you pay shipping for 2 boxes. Local pickup possible in NC. CONUS only. NO TRADES. PayPal, cash, check (units shipped when check clears). Pictures on request.  DON’T MISS THIS ONE!  Sam, KD2T, davebacon137@embarqmail.com or call 252-617-0359 (20160822, 20161212)

*  FOR SALE   Icom 745 Transceiver with matching Icom PS 15 power supply and Icom M-8 Desk Microphone.  Great back- up radio. All for $400. Contact Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI, 252-249-1257 (20161205)

*   FOR SALE:
1.  Kenwood  TS-50S  HF Transceiver, asking  $275   SOLD
2.  Icom AH-4 antenna tuner( can be used on a boat to tune backstay, asking  $150
3.  Gap vertical antenna Eagle DX model asking $175 covers 10-40m – 40m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, and 10m
4.  Icom IC-228H , 2m mobile, asking  $75
5.  Icom IC-2GAT 2M Handheld, asking $90
6.  Icom IC-24AT 2M/440 Handheld, asking  $100
7.  Icom IC-3210A, 2M/440  mobile, asking  $135
8.  Icom IC 706MKIIG HF/VHF/UHF (mobile or base station), asking $675
9. Yaesu FT-1500M 2M mobile, asking $75
10. LDG Z100 Autotuner, asking $75
11. MFJ Deluxe Versatuner II, model MFJ 949E, covers 160m to 20M, 300 watts, asking $80
12. MFJ 25 amp Mighty Lite power supply, asking $60
13. Kenwood DC Switching Power Supply PS-40, asking $75  SOLD
Contact Tom Finta K8TF at 252-249-9838 or fintatom@aol.com
(20161128)

*   FOR SALE  Lightly used Ameritron AL-811H in good working order. Output power is 800 Watts PEP, 600 Watts CW.  It uses four rugged, fully neutralized low cost 811A PA tubes. A backup set of four tubes is included with the amplifier. The dimensions are 13.5″ W x 8.5 H x 14″ D. The operating weight is 32 lbs. I am the second purchaser/owner of this amplifier.  The first owner is an active PARS member. This Amplifier has the factory modification for operation on 10 meters.  A copy of the manual is included. Asking $500. Contact Bill Cresswell, K2ONN at 252-249-0148. (20161024)

*   DONATED EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Here are two pieces of equipment in excellent condition, fully tested, and completely functional.  First is an MFJ Versa Tuner II, model 949B.  This antenna tuner is rated at 300 watts maximum, has two coax outputs that are switchable and can be bypassed, and an internal dummy load.  It also has balanced line or single wire output.  The meter (single needle) reads forward and reflected power in two ranges, 0-30 and 0-300 watts, and SWR.  Second is an MFJ Artificial Ground, Model 931.  This unit is used for stations that can’t get a good RF ground, such as when the station is not on a ground floor, or when working portable at a camp ground or park.  It is rated at 300 watts maximum.   User manuals for both units are available for download in pdf format.  Prices: tuner, $60.00, artificial ground, $50.00.  These are less than half the cost of comparable new units from DX Engineering.  Special deal: buy both units for $100 (they are often used together).  All proceeds go to PARS.  Contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com. (20160926)

*   FOR SALE
SGC antenna tuner. This is the SG 235 with Smart Lock. This tuner is connected at the foot of the antenna. It is rated for 500 Watts. It can be used on Marine, Auto and land applications. Totally weather sealed. New from HRO this unit and Smart Lock are just under $1200 from HRO. Get the best for $400. Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI, 252-249-1257 (20160912)

(Send me your amateur radio related items for sale, trade, or wanted for listing in the PARSgram. PLEASE let me know if your listing is no longer needed.  ITEMS  listed will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise.–Jim).

UPCOMING REGIONAL HAMFESTS:
A complete list can be found on your PARS Website, www.n4prs.org

PARS CALENDAR:
*  Dec 31, PARS Monthly Meeting and Holiday Gift Exchange, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental, Bill Michne, WM3X.  252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com.
*  Jan 28, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental, Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com.

PARS NETS:
*  Mondays, Pete’s “Swamp Talk” roundtable, around  8:15 pm local, 28.463 MHz plus or minus, USB. This is an informal forum originally established to assist our new Hams. The frequency is in the 10M voice segment open to technician licensees and above.  Radio related topics/questions/issues welcomed.
*  Wednesdays, Pamlico Emergency Net Practice and Rag Chew, 7:30 pm, Oriental Repeater, 147.210 + (PL151.4).
*  Thursdays, Pamlico Six Meter Net, 8 pm local, 50.200 MHz, USB. A non-directed open net to promote operation on the ‘Magic Band’.

PARS WEB SITE:
https://www.n4prs.org/
* Chief Editor and Administrator is Greg Wadsworth KM4DZM, 252-322-1033 or gwadsworth1@ yahoo.com
* Web Master is Larry Wall,  KK4SEO, wallmailbox@yahoo.com.

PARSgram ITEMS
We are always looking for items of interest to PARS members to put in the PARSgram.  If you run across a timely item or think of something you believe would interest our folks, please send it to me.  Thanks.

73,
Jim AI4WL

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