PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM SEPTEMBER MEETING
The Pamlico Communications Team met on Saturday, Sept. 3rd at Station 19
at 0900 hrs. Present were Bruce Perkins-K4ONC, Mike Marsh-K4NLC, Jim
Hartmeyer-AI4WL, Bill Olah-KR4LO, Ben Barnett-KI4NSO, Wayne
Beasley-KO4OJC, Mike Hurm-K4HPS, Jim Jenkins – non ham guest and Lor
Kutchens-W3QA via phone.
Bruce called the meeting to order at 0900hrs. Lor was not able to attend
in person but joined us via phone and gave us an update on the Arlington
Place radio tower. The tower owner, Dr Benefield, had contacted Lor
earlier in the week regarding our desire to place a VHF antenna on the
tower. Since Benefield will be selling the tower to an unnamed party, he
is gathering as much information as possible regarding the type of
hardware and radio equipment that we desire to add to the tower. At this
point there has been no solid commitment by either Benefield or the
purchaser for our use of the tower but we hope to hear soon. Lor will
keep us apprised.
The balance of the meeting was devoted to learning how to use the
NanoVNA’s that several members have purchased recently. We set up
several antennas both inside and outside and learned how to check the
SWR and other details. One of those antennas was Jim’s old PAR
Electronics QRP 4 band endfed needing evaluation before use.
After testing, the hastily rigged antenna was connected to a QDX digital
QRP SDR transceiver powered by a Bioenno Power Pack. Even with the
antenna run from the fire house door light fixture to a 16′ pole in the
back of a pick-up, the 4 watt signal FT8 signal on 20 meters was
reported by stations in Europe and many more in North America.
Meeting was adjourned at 1030hrs.
(For more information about the Pamlico Communications Team, please call
Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, at 252-626-2730 or email K4ONC@aol.com.)
OL’ FRONT PORCH MUSIC FESTIVAL- HELP STILL NEEDED
PARS has been asked by the organizers of the Ol’ Front Porch Festival to
volunteer and assist with the festival. The festival this year is Friday
and Saturday, September 30th and October 1st in Oriental. Our assignment
would be to assist ON FRIDAY at each of the 6 closed street locations.
Thousands are expected to attend. Please consider volunteering for this
worthwhile event, interact with fellow PARS members and the community
and have fun while doing so. To signup for this fun and worthwhile
activity please call Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, at 252-626-2730 or email
K4ONC@aol.com.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. There are 4 numbered sunspot regions
on the Sun facing Earth this morning. There were 4 last Monday. The
Prediction Center expects solar activity to be low with a 1 in 3 chance
for M-class flares and a slight chance for an X-class flare today. It
should be very low through Wednesday with a chances for C-class flares.
At noon yesterday, the observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was
- Last Sunday it was 252. The index is predicted to measure 126 at
noon today, then 122 Tuesday and 120 Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing
average was 122 yesterday up two from last Sunday.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field reached major storm levels (G2) yesterday
with strong solar winds being the cause. The storms are now anticipated
to decline, albeit slowly, so NOAA expects conditions to reach minor
storm levels again today. It should be quiet to active Tuesday and
Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 4 reported at 5 a.m. local this
morning indicated unsettled conditions.
Most often those of us in the mid-latitudes are not greatly affected by
magnetic storms. That was not the case yesterday. As the day progressed,
signals on 20 meters dropped in strength until by mid-day most were
gone. Some three hours later, activity slowly reappeared.
Spaceweather.com reported auroras appeared across the country from
Oregon to Washington.
We can expect poor day and fair nighttime operating conditions today on
80 to 40 meters and only fair conditions on the higher HF bands.
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.
1,399 MILES PER WATT
Not much time lately to play with the size-of-a-pack-of-Camels QDX QRP
SDR Digital Transceiver. The most distant contact this week: 8/30/22
2027Z Bulgaria LZ2INF 20M FT4 3.7 Watts OCF @ 50′ 5177 Miles. See
https://qrp-labs.com/qdx for info. It’s a kit but Lor, W3QA may have
more of these neat little transceivers already assembled.
DX THIS WEEK–
From ARLD035 DX news:
ALBANIA, ZA. Nikolas, DG7PX is QRV as ZA/DG7PX. Activity of late
has been on the HF bands using SSB. QSL to home call.
CHATHAM ISLANDS, ZL7. Jeff, K5WE will be QRV as ZL7/K5WE from
Kaingaroa, IOTA OC-038, from September 9 to 21. Activity will be on
160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, and FT4. QSL to home
call.
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:
* MFJ-815B SWR/WATT Meter. $50
* MFJ-994B Automatic Intellituner rated at 600 Watts. $150
Contact Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI, at 919-210-5168. (20220801)
For Sale:
* Icom IC7600 with 125 power supply and sp23 speaker. This speaker has
filters in it. With hand mic, $1000
* Tentec Jupiter green screen with ps963 power supply and Heil desk mic.
$500
* Second Tentec Jupiter with desk mic and 963 power supply, $500
* Heathkit solid state transceiver built by Yaesu. Heathkit SB-1400 same
as FT-747 but better looking. Has matching power supply, speaker combo,
clean $300
* MFJ 40 mtr QRP CW rig with matching tuner and battery pack. With
chargers and flat key, model num 9040 tuner is 971 power neat late
model. Look up MFJ prices abt 600 for all, my price is $100
* MFJ model 949c manual 300 watt tuner ..clean $75
* Alpha 76ca amp 160-10 meter Peter Dahl trans super clean, $1000
* Acom 1000 amp.. 160-6 meters at 1000 watts built in tuner 3 to 1, $1000
* TE Systems model 0552g ss amp mobile. Needs to be fed with 50 amp
power supply. 20 watts in, 350-400 out, $350
Have other equiptment for future listings. Thanks guys. All of this
equipment is clean and works perfect. Can demo here at home.
Contact Don Smith, KJ4RB at kj4rb@embarqmail.com or 252-568-4011 (If no
answer please leave message). (20220613)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Sep 24, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
* Oct 1, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Oriental
VFD Station 19 on Straight Rd vic. NC-55. AUXCOMM & ARES–All are
welcome. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or
K4ONC@aol.com
* Oct 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
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Wednesdays,”Pamlico Communications Net”, 7:30 pm local, N4ONC
(Oriental) Repeater, 147.210 + (CTSCC Tone Squelch 88.5).
* 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
Relax and enjoy a quiet and restful Labor Day.
73, Jim AI4WL
——–
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