PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) JAN 27,2024 MEETING NOTES
* Thirty-three members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am Saturday
breakfast meeting chaired by President Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, at
Brantley’s Village Restaurant.
* There may have been no upgrades reported for the month but there was
a show and tell instead. With the long awaited 2024 Clipperton Island
DXpedition underway (the last one being in 2013) Bill, WM3X, passed
around a QSL card he received from an even earlier Clipperton
DXpedition. And then, Paul, K4MMB, after all the recent news of a
possible finding of Amelia Earhart’s plane in the deep, passed around a
1937 Suriname postage stamp commemorating her flight.
* Bruce delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally. The club
is solvent.
* AI4WL’s Propagation Report: According to those chasing Clipperton on
HF last week, propagation has been generally good except for Friday’s
CME event that degraded conditions for a period. There has been low
activity on average but still good propagation on the 17 and 15 meter
bands continues. Current hot DX:Clipperton Isl, TX5S, and St. Helena,
ZD7Z. [Clipperton closed early due to storms after over making 110K
contacts-ed]
* Paul, K4MMB, reported the PARS Web site www.n4prs.org is “on line”,
about 180 visits per month.
* ARES/PCN. Mike reported that the PCN controller script is now on the
N4PRS Web Site “ARES” page.
* Jim reminded all that the NC QSO party is coming up on the last
Sunday in February. Pamlico county is always in demand. Bill Michne will
operate his station with the club call, N4PRS, and welcomes members,
guests and even prospective hams to visit and operate.
* The Pamlico Communications Team (PCT)meets monthly on the first
Saturday at Station 19. The next meeting will be on the February 3rd.
Bill, K2TNO, will talk talk about sharpening knives, chisels, and
planes. A repeater update will follow. All are welcome.
* Lor Kutchins, W3QA, reported that, after it’s reprogrammed, a Kenwood
TKR720 analog VHF repeater will be installed at the Kershaw site. The
Motorola repeater will be returned to Arapahoe. Antenna issues (crackle,
chugging) at Arapahoe need to isolated and fixed. When done, the
Arapahoe NC4ES repeater will operate in the DMR mode and connected to
the EHPC area wide network. It can be quickly reconfigured if the
Oriental N4ONC repeater becomes unavailable. Additional modes will be
added in time.
* The disposition of donated equipment, particularly that of high
value, was discussed. The club has several items including linear
amplifiers to sell. It was generally agreed that high value items should
be offered on-line to obtain larger exposure. Cost of shipping is a
challenge. If offered locally a reserve price should be set. Paul,
K4MMB, recommended Craig’s List, Lor E-Ham, QRZ. Bruce asked Dick
Goodwin, Bill Olah, Paul and Lor as a committee to work the issue.
* Bruce asked the group to consider a donation to the Oriental VFD for
its generous use of Station 19 for our Fox Hunts and monthly meetings of
the club’s PCT. Bill Olah moved that $300 be donated to the department.
Bill Cresswell seconded the motion. The members passed the motion
unanimously.
* Two hurricane preparation Exercises are scheduled for this Spring
according to Lor: April 4th, NCCOMMS-North Carolina Communications
Nexus; June 13th, EHPC Communications Exercise. These are statewide and
ENC exercises with several AUXCOMM lanes. Sign-up on NC Terms. For more
info contact Lor or Bruce.
* Members present agreed to a Spring Fox Hunt in April. Appears to be
lots of interest. Another committee was appointed including Mike K4NLC,
Bill K2TNO, Cody KA4RFG and Bill KR4LO to work the date and details.
* Bill K2TNO drew the winning number for a Brantleys Gift Certificate;
Charlie KO4YWM a PARS coaster, and Bill K2ONN, a PARS bumper sticker.
* There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:18 am.
PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS NET AND PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING
The Pamlico Communications Net (PCN) for Wednesday January 31st 2024 had
15 voice checkins. Of that number, 6 were also Winlink checkins: 3 using
the standard checkin form and 3 using the ICS213 form.
The PCT Net Control Operator for the month of February will be Jim
Hartmeyer, AI4WL. Let’s all show Jim support by checking into the NET
this Wednesday, February 7th at 1930hrs, on the N4ONC VHF Kershaw
repeater, 147.210, + PL 88.5.
On Saturday February 3rd at 0900hrs the Pamlico Coms Team met at the
Southeast Pamlico Vol Fire Department, Station 19, in Oriental. Bill
Schrader, K2TNO, gave an extremely interesting presentation on the
proper method of sharpening knives, chisels and wood planes. Bill has
decades of experience in sharpening such tools and volunteers his
talents at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort.
The meeting was well attended by 15 PARS members including: KI4KEB,
KG4ISY, W3QA, K4NLC, K4ONC, KR4LO, KW1ZRD, KO4OJC, NT2I, K4HPS, AI4WL,
K2ONN, KO44WM, KO4KQC and future Ham Jeffrey Cunniff.
73,
Bruce Perkins – K4ONC
NC QSO PARTY SUNDAY FEB 25,2024
So, the North Carolina QSO Party is on Sunday, Feb 25th. This will
be the Sunday after our next monthly PARS breakfast meeting. The first
running was back in 1970 sponsored by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society.
After years being run by other clubs it returned to Raleigh in 2013.
They’ve done a wonderful job.
Looking back at the stats on the ncqsoparty web site, our Pamlico
County participation has been flaky at best. In the not too distant
past, a couple of us have done well and therefore made it into the logs
of lots of party goers. Dick Goodwin, K4JJW, ran a bonus station for the
QSO party in 2022. In 2021, he placed second in the DXpedition category.
Recently, we have not done so well, Pamlico County has had few
participants despite having lots of hams. This year we should try to do
better. The party starts at 10 am and ends at 8 pm. The exchange is
simple, call sign and county (PAM). Bands are 80 through 2 meters, no
160, no WARC. Modes include phone, CW, and digital but no FT8 or FT4.
As in recent years, Bill Michne, WM3X, will fire up his rig, put up
the PARS CALL SIGN, N4PRS, and open the doors to members, guests, and
friends who wish to come to the party. Stay an hour, stay longer. Be
prepared to work a pile-up. Pamlico County is wanted.
For more info and the complete rules, awards details and more, go
to the NC QSO Party Web site at www.ncqsoparty.org. For more local info
from those who’ve played, contact Jim, AI4WL at 675-3590; Dick, K4JJW at
rgoodwin41@suddenlink.net; or Bill, WM3X, at 249-1175. Good fun, great
experience!
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was moderate during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. The largest solar event of the period
was a M2 event observed at 04/2237Z. You may have noticed the radio
blackout we experienced yesterday afternoon from an earlier flare. The
Space Weather Prediction Center expects solar activity to continue to be
moderate today through Wednesday with a slight chance for X-class
flares. There are 8 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth
this morning. There were 5 last Monday, 9 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 170,
last Sunday’s was 141. The index is predicted to measure 170 today, 170
Tuesday and 170 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was 156
yesterday. It was 157 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. The SWPC expects the field to
reach minor storm levels today, quiet to unsettled on Tuesday, quiet on
Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 7 am this morning was 1.67
indicating quiet conditions.
For today and tomorrow, propagation is expected to be poor the 80
through 20 meter bands during the day, fair at to good night.
Propagation is predicted to be good day and night for 17 and 15; good
day, poor at night for 12 and 10.
Elvira has disappeared into the night and back to Italy. During her 14
days on St. Helena she made over 47 thousand QSOs. Not too shabby.
Coming up later this month look for more really good ones, the Solomon
Islands and Wallis and Futuna.
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.
DX TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARLD004 and ARLD005 DX news:
–SENEGAL, 6W. Willy, ON4AVT will be QRV as 6W7/ON4AVT from Warang
from February 3 to April 16. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using
SSB and various digital modes, and on Satellite QO-100. QSL to home
call.
–MINAMI TORISHIMA, JD1. Take, JG8NQJ is QRV as JG8NQJ/JD1 while on
work assignment at the weather station located here. Activity is in
his spare time on 17 and 15 meters, and possibly 12 and 10 meters,
using CW and some FT8 around 2100 to 0200z. QSL via JA8CJY.
–VANUATU, YJ. Takio, JH3QFL and Mamoru, JH3VAA will be QRV as YJ0AA
and YJ0MN, respectively, from February 4 to 11. Activity will be on
the HF bands using mostly FT8, and on Satellite IO-117. QSL via
LoTW.
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 your listing is no longer needed. Listings will
EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise. Thanks, Jim.
–FOR SALE:
- Yaesu FT2DR handheld, digital/analog C4FM includes radio, antenna,
box and data cable $300 obo
- Kenwood TS-820S, operational with strong tubes gives 100+ watts out!
Includes radio, kenwood box, power cord, hand mic and spare donor parts
rig $475 obo
- I’m looking for a backup/ secondary hf + 6m solid state rig so I will
be open to trades or working out a deal if your interested in any of my
listed items!
Contact Cody, KN4RFG, at 252-229-4542 or codyakamudduck2005@gmail.com
(20240122)
–FOR SALE:
#1 – YAESU SWR & POWER METER 1.6-60MHz YS-60. Working. Exceptional
little unit — needs a better home. $60.00 Pickup in Merritt.
#2 – MFJ Artificial Ground MFJ-931. Works as it should (at least, it did
when I last used it). Dusty & lonely & needs a new home. $90.00 Pickup
in Merritt.
#3 – ICOM IC-735 HF Transceiver. Used. Working. Missing the plastic
cover over the slider controls. $225.
Contact Jan, KK4LSQ, 252-239-3953 or kk4lsq.onc@gmail.com (20231218)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Feb 24, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Mar 2, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM 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 — Operational
NC4ES VHF FM/DMR Arapahoe — Non-operational.
NC4ES UHF DMR 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 open to 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 WEB SITE: https://www.n4prs.org/
Our Web Master is Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, 561-308-3456, PARSwebman@gmail.com
73, Jim AI4WL Editor
——–
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