PARS BREAKFAST MEETING THIS COMING SATURDAY
Our next meeting will be in the back room of Brantleys Village
Restaurant on Broad Street in Oriental at 0900 Saturday, July 26th.
Please park along the side or out back. We hope to see you all there.
Come early for breakfast with your fellow hams. For more information
contact Pamlico Amateur Radio Society President Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
Expect to hear about repeater activity, an update from and about the
Oriental Repeater Group, HF & VHF DX and propagation, PARS at
Croakerfest, the wandering pico balloon and more. Always lots to talk
about plus a chance for a Brantleys Gift Certificate.
DONATION TO THE ORIENTAL REPEATER GROUP
For those that may have missed it, what follows is a press release sent
to the local media on the day of presentation by Bruce Perkins, K4ONC:
This afternoon [July 3, 2025-ed.], Bill Michne, WM3X, and Tom Corwin,
KI4NSP, presented the Oriental Repeater Group (ORG) with a check in the
amount of $25,000. The donation is to be used to upgrade and maintain
the amateur radios and equipment currently located on both the Arapahoe
and Kershaw radio towers.
The five members/owners of the Oriental Repeater Group graciously
accepted a cash donation to maintain the amateur radios and related
equipment owned by the group. The equipment is currently located on two
commercial radio/cell towers in the Oriental/Arapahoe areas of Pamlico
County. The amateur radio repeaters are for general use by licensed
amateur and GMRS FCC licensed individuals, especially during times of
emergency.
The Oriental Repeater Group (ORG) is comprised of the following local
individuals and is a branch of the Pamlico Amateur Radio Society (PARS)
of Oriental. This year, 2025, is the twentieth anniversary of PARS.
For additional information, contact Bruce Perkins at K4ONC@aol.com or
252-626-2730.
Lor Kutchins, W3QA………………President
Bill Olah, KR4LO………………Vice President
Bruce Perkins, K4ONC……………Secretary / Treasurer
Mike Marsh, K4NLC
Wayne Beasley, Jr., KO4OJC
PAMLICO EMERGENCY/COMMUNICATIONS NET
Bruce, K4ONC, our controller for the month of July, counted 12 WinLink
check-ins and 18 net check-ins for the Pamlico Emergency/Communications
Net last Wednesday, July 16th. Those on the net were queried for GMRS
call signs from those who had them. Eleven responded with their calls.
GMRS equipment has been obtained for use during major emergencies at the
Oriental Fire Department. The new GMRS repeater on the Kershaw/Oriental
tower covers a 5-10 mile radius for HT users.
SO WHERE IS SHE NOW? THE GREAT EASTERN BALLOON ‘ROUND-ABOUT CONTINUES
Last Monday we reported little Miss NC4ES was still alive and still
making her way around our globe, albeit slowly and with interesting
diversions. That afternoon, she was well south of Hawaii heading
southeasterly toward Panama. When we woke up yesterday, Sunday, she too
was just waking up, but over the Atlantic. The winds had continued her
southeasterly course. She had spent Monday through Thursday over the
Pacific; Friday over Ecuador, Peru and Columbia–and crossing the now
very long Greenville starting line–then Saturday zipping over Brazil
beginning lap 10. By Sunday’s wake up she was over the Atlantic about
350 miles north of Sao Luis, Brazil.
Apparently the Traquito tracking site is offline. Those that have been
following her course may want to try this one:
http://lu7aa.org/wsprx.asp?other=nc4es&banda=20m&balloonid=15×lot=0&detail=&launch=20250116200800&SSID=8&tracker=traquito&qrpid=300&repito=on&qp=&telen=&comments=
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 40% chance for M-class through
Wednesday. Even so, there still is a 1 in 10 chance for an X-class flare.
There are 10 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 11 two weeks ago, 11 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 150,
last Sunday’s was 128. The index is predicted to measure 145 today, 140
Tuesday and 140 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing
average was 136 yesterday. It was 136 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. The SWPC expects the field to
be quiet today and tomorrow, then be unsettled on Wednesday. The
planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was 0.67 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 ARLD029 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–GREENLAND, OX. Bo, OZ1DJJ, is QRV as OX3LX from Nuuk until July 29.
Activity will be in his spare time. QSL via OZ0J.
–WALES, GW. Members of the British Army and others will be QRV with
special event station GB1RW at the Royal Welsh Showground from July 21
to 24 to promote amateur radio, education, and military outreach. QSL
via operators’ instructions.
–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: 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)
–SOLD: TRAM 1410 25-1300 MHz Discone scanner antenna.
–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
——–
This email is sent to members and friends of the Pamlico Amateur Radio
Society. We are pleased that you asked to receive our weekly newsletter
and hope that you enjoy reading it. This and previous PARSgrams are
archived on the PARS Website. If you no longer wish to receive the
PARSgram please let us know by reply email or to pamlicoham@pamlico.net.