HAM ELECTROCUTED – BE CAREFUL
From Bill Schrader, K2TNO:
Dear PARS members
Today [July 4, 2025] a terrible accident occurred to N4NTO, apparently
on a POTA activation here in NC. It looks like he was dealing with an
antenna mast, and somehow it contacted a power line.
I’ve attached the local TV report [below}. It shows the park site.
I’m sharing this sad news to remind everyone to BE MORE AND MORE CAREFUL
— especially when you may be repeating a task that you’ve done
hundreds of times before. Anyone can get careless just once, and pay for
it like Tripp Owens did today.
He hardly ever missed a contest, on practically any mode or band. He was
a mainstay of the multiop AG4TT.
I didn’t know him personally, but saw him every month on our PVRC-NC
zoom meeting.
I hope ARRL will take this moment to publish a note as they have done in
the past, called “Switch to Safety.”
73,
Bill Schrader K2TNO
Greensboro NC
https://abc11.com/post/man-found-dead-apparent-electrocution-harnett-county-cemetery/16956192/
PAMLICO EMERGENCY/COMMUNICATIONS NET
Bruce, K4ONC, our controller for the month of July, counted 17 WinLink
check-ins (two of them twice) and 18 net check-ins for the Pamlico
Emergency/Communications Net last Wednesday, June 25th. He reported a
successful Crokerfest with parade “float” and park booth, that the GMRS
repeater is up and running, and a big financial donation to the Oriental
Repeater Group. Long time member Tom Corwin KI4NSP (SK), not responding
to his call at check-in, was given a final farewell by those who knew
him. EchoLink users, please wait for your turn on the PCN. You will be
called separately.
SO WHERE IS SHE NOW? THE GREAT EASTERN BALLOON ‘ROUND-ABOUT CONTINUES
Lest we forget, Miss NC4ES–the Greenville balloon–is still up there
and very slowly heading our way. Two weeks ago, she finally found her
way across the line to begin lap 9. It’s taken until now for her to make
it across Europe, then China, and into the Pacific. When it looked like
she was headed toward Australia, she popped up half-way across just
below Hawaii. She is a wanderer for sure. Her signal should be hearable
again in a couple of days.
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 50-50 chance for M-class through
Wednesday. Expect R1 level blackouts on the sunlit side of the Earth.
There are 7 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 11 two weeks ago, 5 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 128,
last Sunday’s is unavailable. The index is predicted to measure 125
today, 128 Tuesday and 130 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day
trailing average was 136 yesterday. It was 143 two weeks ago.
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 3.00 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. Go
to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD028 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.
–ASCENSION ISLAND, ZD8. Larry, KI6LT will be QRV in his spare time as
KI6LT/ZD8 from July 18 to 22. Activity will be mostly SSB. He will also
have a WSPR signal on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters.
–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.
–NEW For Sale: New never used TYT TH-9000, 220-260 MHz Mobile or base
rig 55 Watts with keyboard mic, mounting bracket, DC fused power cord,
original box. 200 memory Channels etc. Has a good review on EHam.
Purchased from a silent key collection, apparently never energized or
used. In original packaging with all included accessories and manual.
$70.00 Cash with no returns. Unit in downtown Oriental for your
perusal. Contact Paul, K4MMP at PARSwebman@gmail.com (20250714)
–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)
–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 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
* August 2, 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
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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