PARSgram 2021-12-20

PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) December 18, 2021 MEETING NOTES

*  Sixteen PARS members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am breakfast

meeting chaired by President Mike Marsh, K4NLC, at Brantley’s Village

Restaurant.

*  Mike presented Wally’s treasurer’s report.  The club is solvent.

PARS/ARRL membership renewal forms for CY2022 were mailed to current

members last week.

*  Propagation Report:  Solar activity was reported to be moderate with

6 sunspot regions and a chance for M class flares. The solar flux was up

to 121 Friday, a big jump from 92 last month. The geomagnetic field was

reported to be quiet.

*  Bruce, K4ONC, our county AUXcomm lead reported that the Regional

Communications Exercise on December 9th involving Public Service and

Hospital/Medical agencies and also AUXcomm personnel went well. Lor,

W3QA, helped conduct the exercise at RCC-East in Kinston. A Pamlico

County AUXcomm support team operated at the Florence-Whortonsville VFD

as did a one-man (Gary Mitchelson, NC3Z) Controller/Simulation support

cell. Four others from the Pamlico Communications team operated from

their home stations. All were challenged to accomplish 25 communications

tasks on the events list in response to Exercise “Hurricane Frank”.

*  As announced at the November meeting, the N4ONC Repeater Group is

working toward upgrading the now over 20 year old 2M repeater to provide

for both analog and digital (DMR) modes. Lor, W3QA, explained that the

“new” repeater, re-purposed from available components, will operate in

both modes on the same frequency as the current repeater.  Additional

CTCSS/DCS codes will be implemented to prevent conflict. The new

repeater’s output will be 100W. The current repeater is at 25W so range

should improve. Antenna repairs have already been done.

*  Mike reminded all that the next PARS meeting will be on Saturday,

January 29th. Bill, WM3X, will present some interesting findings from

his analysis of participation and scores from the 2021 ARRL Field Day.

*  Chief Elf Bruce, K4ONC, with a little help from his friends,

orchestrated the Christmas gift exchange. There were lot’s of happy

smiles and thank-yous.

*  There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:35 am. It

was followed by a review/critique (“Hotwash”) by those involved in the

Regional COMMEX.

 

SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY

NOAA reported solar activity was low during the 24 hour period ending

yesterday at 4 p.m. local however there was a M1 flare at 1136Z this

morning. There are 7 reported numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing

Earth. The Prediction Center expects solar activity to be low today

through Wednesday with a chance for M-class flares. On Sunday the

observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 115. (Last Sunday it

was 80.) The index is predicted to measure 115 today and tomorrow and

then 114 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is up three to 89.

 

The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. NOAA

expects conditions to be quiet to active today, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The estimated Kp-index of 4 reported at 7 a.m. local this morning

reflects our unsettled geomagnetic conditions.

 

We can expect fair day and good nighttime operating conditions today on

80 and 40 meters, fair on 30 and 20, and mostly poor on the higher

bands. Propagation on six meters is looking up. About 1/3 of the about

50 contacts reported this morning (it is early afternoon) in Europe are

long distance E-layer skip (Es). The rest are a mix of meteor skip and

tropo. Of the few contacts reported in N. America, several are Es.

 

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.

 

HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED

For listing in the PARSgram send me your amateur radio related items

that are for sale, trade, or wanted. 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.–Jim.

 

*FOR SALE* Astron RS-70M in pretty nice shape. $250 Gary Mitchelson,

NC3Z/4, nc3z.gary@gmail.com, 252-745-0655 (20211101)

 

*FOR SALE*  Yaesu FT-2000 from the estate of the original owner. This is

the 100 watt version.  In evaluating this radio the frequency display

was found to be weak, and has been replaced with genuine Yaesu parts.

Otherwise, the radio is in full specification working order, and

includes the owner’s manual and associated schematic diagrams.  It does

not include a microphone, but there are numerous commercial options.

$750.  Prefer local pickup.  Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175,

drmichne73@gmail.com. (20211025)

 

PARS CALENDAR:

* Jan 8, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING, Saturday, 9am,

Florence-Whortonsville VFD. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,

252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com

* Jan 29, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village

Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,

252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org

* Feb 26, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village

Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,

252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org

 

LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:

*  Wednesdays,”Pamlico Communications Net”, 7:30 pm local, Oriental

Repeater, 147.210 + (PL151.4).

*  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

 

We wish you all, our Society members and friends, a safe and very Merry

Christmas. Have a Great Holiday!

 

73, Jim AI4WL

——–

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