REMINDER, THE PCT MEETING IS THIS COMING SATURDAY
At the Oriental Station 19 VFD, 9am. Expect some words on the install of
the VHF station at the firehouse, efforts to get the difficult ARCOM
controller operational at Kershaw, increasing usage of the Arapahoe DMR
repeater, and assistance for those still needing DMR answers. Also more
on the May 13th Open House at the RCC and the June 17 EHPC COMMEX. Bring
your DMR radio with programming cable if you need programming help.
SO WHERE ARE THEY NOW? THE GREAT EASTERN BALLOON ‘ROUND-ABOUT CONTINUES
When I drafted this PARSgram mid-afternoon Sunday, the Greenville
balloon, NC4ES, after drifting slowly up the Aleutians and over Kodiak
Island was just waking up below Whitehorse in the Canadian Northwest
Territories. The WSPRnet map showed the Pamlico balloon, N4PRS, in the
dark over Pakistan headed east. She’s moving much faster. You might
remember, last Monday morning she had just blown over Mexico and was
approaching the Gulf of Whatever.
According to the most recent reports recorded by WSPRnet, by last
evening our time the NC4ES balloon had floated SE and was over NW
British Columbia (0158Z/05 May); the the N4PRS balloon was already over
central India (0308Z/05 May).
PAMLICO EMERGENCY/COMMUNICATIONS NET
Wayne, K04OJC, reported 16 WinLink check-ins and 22 net check-ins for
the Pamlico Emergency/Communications Net last Wednesday, April 30th. Six
stayed for the DMR gathering on the Arapahoe repeater. Listen for Hank,
KW1ZRD, on Wednesday. Hank is scheduled to be net controller for the
month of May.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be low today through Wednesday with a chance
for M-class flares.
There are 5 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 9 last Monday, 7 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 159,
last Sunday’s was 156. The index is predicted to measure 160 today, 160
Tuesday and 160 on Wednesday. The much more important SFI 90 day
trailing average was 168 yesterday. It was 171 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field reached minor storm levels yesterday. The SWPC
expects the field to be quiet to active today and Tuesday and back to
quiet to unsettled on Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this
morning was 4.33 indicating unsettled conditions. Geomagnetic storms
reaching the G1 level are expected.
Look for poor conditions during the day on 80 to 40, fair at night; fair
day and night on 30 to 15; and fair day, poor at night on 12 and 10M. Go
to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD018 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–AUSTRAL ISLANDS, FO. A group of operators are QRV as TX9A from Tubuai,
IOTA OC-152, until May 7. Activity is on the HF bands using CW, SSB,
FT8, and FT4.
–NAMIBIA, V5. Remo, HB9SHD is QRV as V51/HB9SHD until June 15. Activity
is holiday style on 40 to 6 meters using SSB and various digital modes.
QSL via LoTW.
–PRINCE EDWARD AND MARION ISLANDS, ZS8. Yuris, YL2GM is QRV as ZS8W
from Marion Island to May 16 while on work assignment. Activity will be
in his spare time on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. This one
will be tough to log–one man operation part time and #11 on most wanted
list. Good luck.
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: Astron VS-50M 50-amp power supply. Like new condition with
original box and paperwork. Only defect is that the voltmeter backlight
quit working (common problem with Astron). I was going to install the
LED upgrade, which is included for both meters, but don’t have the
motivation since I no longer need a 50-amp power supply. This item
currently sells for over $500. First $375 takes. Mike, AB1OU,
203-981-0215. (20250428)
–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)
PARS CALENDAR:
* May 10, 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
* May 31, 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