NO PARSgram NEXT MONDAY, July 7th
Your mailbox will be light next Monday, no PARSgram. Your editor is
taking a break.
Take note of the DATE CHANGE for the Pamlico Communications Team July
meeting. Because of Croakerfest, the PCT will skip this Saturday and
meet on Saturday, July 12th, 0900 at the Oriental Station 19 Fire
Station, Straight Road.
AND… For the roster, members are requested to provide/send your GMRS
call sign to Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com. A list
will also be kept with the Station 19 GMRS equipment.
PARS NEEDS YOUR HELP AT CROAKERFEST
For the past several years Paul, K4MMB, has driven his PARS CROAKER
COMMUNICATIONS JEEP in the parade. He will do it again this year. He has
also arranged for PARS to have a “booth” near the Kiddie Park on South
Avenue just beyond the food vendors on Saturday. The HF equipped Jeep
will be parked nearby. If you can help Bruce and Paul talk up ham radio
and community GMRS, please contact Bruce at 252-626-2730 or
K4ONC@aol.com. It should be fun with a great view across the Neuse. And
if you can’t do that but can monitor and chat with the Kershaw repeater
and/or the GMRS repeater that will be helpful.
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) June 28, 2025 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-six members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am Saturday
breakfast meeting at Brantley’s Village Restaurant chaired by President
Bruce Perkins, K4ONC.
* As for interesting contacts, yours truly, AI4WL, reported “repeater
DX” for the past several days via the Kershaw repeater. We’ve had tropo
“ducting” along the coast. Nelson, up in Broadnax, VA, 135 miles away
has been strong around 0745 in the morning. I also answered a signal
report request on the PRN from KP3U last week. It turned out that the
call belongs to “Sam” Nakano, a retired Japan Self Defense Force officer
now living in South Carolina. For his last assignment, he worked as a
liaison officer with the US Forces at Camp Zama, Japan, where I had
served 20 years earlier. Small world. We had an enjoyable chat. Lots had
changed.
* Bruce delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally. We’re
doing fine.
* AI4WL’s Propagation Report: Solar activity has been low with fewer
sunspots. Good DX remains. 20, 17, and 15 have been dependable during
the day. Expect low solar activity to continue for the next few days.
Conditions should be fair to good during the day for the middle HF
bands, good at night for the low, poor for the high. DX opportunities
include East Malaysia, Ogasawara, Jan Mayen, and West Kiribati (Tarawa
Atoll).
* Bruce surprised me with some very kind words about the PARSgram.
[BTW, the PARSgram started in 2006 as a single paragraph email reminder
about our monthly meeting. Folks then couldn’t remember whether the
meeting was on the 4th Saturday or the last Saturday. The reminder
morphed into something more and was dubbed the PARSgram in 2007–ed.]
* ARES/PCN. Mike, K4NLC, our coordinator, has been rotating the
controllers monthly. This month it was Bill, KR4LO; in July it will be
Bruce. The monthly net is a training vehicle offered to all. During an
emergency, the first one on the net becomes the controller until
relieved. It helps to have had some experience. Once the Station 19
equipment is in place, control will be run from there periodically.
* Bruce reminded all that the Pamlico Communications Team is a subset
of PARS. It has EMCOMM origins but has broadened take on technical and
non-tech subjects occasioned by member interests. The group is now
assembling a multi-mode amateur station in the Oriental VFD. It will
start with VHF then GMRS and HF. It will be staffed by PCT and other ham
volunteers when required. Because of Croakerfest over the holiday
weekend of July 4-5, the July meeting will be on July 12th.
* Web report– Paul, K4MMB. The N4PRS.ORG web site is healthy with 200
visitors, 400 pages visited in the past 30 days, most legit. Paul
requests reader input, especially photos of our ham activities.
* Lor, W3QA, updated the group on the remaining pico balloon from the
launch of three in Greenville February 17th. It [call NC4ES] appears to
be a wanderer that has not only crossed over the North Pole twice
shortening her roundabout considerably, but now has floated back
westward from near Bermuda, across NC near Greenville, then north again
into Virginia. [By this Monday morning, she had over-flown Allentown,
PA, Boston, back over the Atlantic and two-thirds of the way to
Portugal.-ed.] He believes the Oriental balloon [N4PRS] that was near
the Yucatan 22 days ago was lost due to radio equipment failure, perhaps
during a storm.
* Bruce reported on the recent COMMEX. Seven from Pamlico County
participated. Most accomplished their tasks on the new “home amateur
track”. The most expansive exercise so far, it had multiple tracks,
airborne repeaters, ad hoc injects. By all reports, the exercise was
well received. Lots of lessons learned. After-action report to come.
* So no club participation in Field Day this year but a Picnic during
cooler October weather instead. Being organized by Charlie. WA4GSI, and
Wayne, KO4OJC, it will be at the Park behind Station 19 VFD… a big
party to celebrate OUR 20TH BIRTHDAY.
* Wayne talked about his C4FM Fusion Repeater. It is now being tested
at his home on Mitchell Creek, but soon will be at about 65 ft. on Bill
KR4LO’s tower on Upper Baird Creek. An experiment to share the Kershaw
UHF antenna with the GMRS repeater is being considered.
* Bruce reported that the Oriental Hurricane Forum last Wednesday went
well, the best ever according to some. Following the briefings by the
National Weather Service and the Oriental Town Manager, Bruce talked
about the additional security GMRS can offer after a major storm and how
it helped the public after Hurricane Helene. He reported on the new GMRS
repeater, the station at the Fire Station, and demonstrated making
calls. The Ad hoc demo went extremely well… Bill M. W3MX simulated a
call to the fire house; then Ralph AG2GR called from Fairfield Harbor,
followed by Wayne from across the Neuse in Harlowe.
* For the first time, PARS will have a “booth” at Croakerfest. It will
be used to promote GMRS and amateur radio communications as a last
resort. Volunteers to help are appreciated. [See separate note above]
* The next PARS meeting will be on July 26th.
* As for door prizes, Hank KW1ZRD, took home two PARS coasters and Rick
NN2S, a PARS bumper sticker. Bruce K4ONC had the winning number for the
Brantleys Gift Certificate. [He swears the drawing was not fixed.-ed]
* There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:28 am.
PAMLICO EMERGENCY/COMMUNICATIONS NET
Bill KR4LO, our controller for the month of June, counted 21 WinLink
check-ins and 16 net check-ins for the Pamlico Emergency/Communications
Net last Wednesday, June 25th. After the regular net and with no notice,
Bill asked the check-ins to switch to 28.460 MHz. Four were able to do
so. Bruce, K4ONC will be the controller in July. This Wednesday be
prepared to switch to the “DMR post-net net” or the GMRS repeater.
Either way, it will be a directed net. Please listen for guidance from
the controller during the PCN. EchoLink users, please wait for your turn
on the PCN. You will be called after all others.
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 with a 1 in 4 chance for M-class
through Wednesday.
There are 11 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 5 last Monday, 8 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 128,
last Sunday’s was 125. The index is predicted to measure 123 today, 120
Tuesday and 117 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing
average was 143 yesterday. It was 146 last Sunday. Slowly dropping.
The geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. The SWPC expects the field to
be quiet today and tomorrow, then be quiet to active on Wednesday. The
planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was 2.33 indicating quiet
conditions.
Look for fair conditions during the day on 80 to 40, good at night; good
day and night on 30 to 15; and fair day, poor at night on 12 and 10M.
This is about the same as last week. Expect some 6 Meter Es activity,
especially during the afternoon. Go to
https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD026 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–EAST MALAYSIA, 9M6. Special event station 9M4WWA will be QRV from
Sarawak Borneo from June 30 to July 6 during the 2025 World Wide Award
Sprint. QSL via operators’ instructions.
–JAN MAYEN, JX. Peter, LB2OG is QRV as JX/LB2OG while on work
assignment. Activity is in his spare time and currently on 40 and 20
meters, and possibly other higher bands, using SSB and FT8. His length
of stay is unknown. QSL to home call.
–WEST KIRIBATI, T30. Members of the Rebel DX Group are QRV as T30TTT
from North Tarawa until September 8. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters
using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4 with up to 10 stations active. 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 if your listing is no longer needed. Listings
will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise. Thanks, Jim.
–FOR SALE: TRAM 1480 VHF/UHF base station antenna (advertised as 6dB
gain on 2m and 8 dB gain on 70cm). I had very impressive results with
this antenna for both distance and cross-band repeat, but now live in an
HOA that has a zero-tolerance antenna policy. Very good condition: $45
($110 on Amazon). Mike, AB1OU, 203-981-0215. (20250630)
–FOR SALE: TRAM 1410 25-1300 MHz Discone scanner antenna. I used this
in the attic of my previous house, but now live in an HOA that has a
zero-tolerance antenna policy. Like new condition: $35 ($60 on Amazon).
Mike, AB1OU, 203-981-0215. (20250630)
–SOLD: MFJ-461 POCKET CW READER
–FOR SALE: POTA/Field Day package, $550.00. Includes all the accessory
gear that you need for a high quality POTA/Field Day packaged station.
It’s a plug and play set-up. Just plug in your transceiver (IC-7300 or
similar) and you will be on the air in minutes with 100w, all day long.
Multi-band, 80-10m. New cost of components was $1200+, package price is
$550. Package includes:
1. Marine/RV deep cycle 27dc 180A battery in a portable battery box that
includes a digital amp meter and volt meter, and 4 Anderson Power Pole
outputs.
2. Battery Booster, MFJ-4416-C mounted on battery box. The booster is
electronically quiet and rated at 25 amps cont. It works great and will
keep the system output at a constant 13.8V even when the battery voltage
drops to 10.8v. Lots of capacity for full power, all day long.
3. Max Gain Systems, MK-4-HD heavy duty 25′ fiber glass push up mast,
4′ locking sections.
4. Drive on mount for the 25′ Max Gain mast.
5. ICOM AH-4 auto-tuner, 200w, 160-10m (on base of mast)
6. 50′ of pre-wired connecting power cable and RG-59 coax…all cables
needed to get on the air.
7. Inverted L antenna (on storage reel) reconfigurable, 54’/83′, #18
“silky” wire, 100′ 1/8″ Dacron rope.
Contact: Dick Goodwin, K4JJW, rdgjg1964@gmail.com 252-633-7873
Fairfield Harbour (20250519)
–FREE: ICOM IC 700. Marine SSB, old, free, probably good for parts
only. Does not tx on 8. Glenn Sikes, KG4RYZ, New Bern, 305-744-8000
(20250519)
PARS CALENDAR:
* July 5, CROAKERFEST–Parade & Booth, Saturday, 10am-5pm, vic South Ave
& High St., Oriental. For more info contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* July 12, 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
* July 26, 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.
GMRS Repeater (Ch 21, Rptr 7 or 462.700MHz+ PL 131.8Hz) — Operational
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– 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
——–
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