PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) NOVEMBER 29, 2025 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-four members, visitors and guests attended the 9am Saturday
breakfast meeting at Brantley’s Village Restaurant chaired by President
Bruce Perkins, K4ONC. Buck, AA4SN, shared his latest find, a CW paddle
crafted from two WW2 British straight keys, glued bottom to bottom and
mounted sideways. Weighs a ton, solid as a rock.
* Bruce delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally. A StarLink
Mini for the Oriental-Kershaw repeater was purchased using repeater
group funds.
* AI4WL’s PROPAGATION Report: Although the official NOAA forecast was
for low activity and only fair propagation, a returning large sunspot
brought with it a major solar flare and a short HF blackout for the
Pacific. Propagation has been very good of late and even the high bands
have been staying open into the evening. Jim reminded all that updated
band conditions are to be found Paul’s
(https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/) PARS web site. Current DX
opportunities include Rodriques Island, Easter Island, the Mariana’s,
and St. Helena.
* The next PCT MEETING will be this coming Saturday, December 6th at
the Oriental VFD. All are welcome to learn more about Fox Hunting,
direction finding, and the equipment required both for the fox and the
hounds.
* Mike, K4NLC, thanked Charlie, KO4YWM, for handling the Net Control
Station duties in November. It was his first time. Mike will take it for
December and Wayne K04OJC in January. Mike noted we are seeing 15 or so
Winlink check-ins and a few more voice check-ins on average. Three of
those 15 members who checked-in last Wednesday were from afar via
EchoLink. Next week (December 3rd) members will be requested to QSY to
the Baird Creek (Wayne’s World) repeater on FM. They will be called in
turn to validate improvements made recently, both in voice quality,
reliability and repeater range. [KO40JC FM/C4FM/WIRES-X Baird Creek
(146.310MHz- CTCSS 131.8)-ed]
* Wayne and Bill KR4LO spent untold hours refurbishing the KO4OJC YSF
repeater out by Baird Creek. Gremlins persisted. They came and they
went. As a last resort, down came the tower, apart came the hardline…
Ugh, the green stuff! Now all connections cleaned, polished and
protected. It appears, finally, all is well. According to Mike, we’ll
give it an operational test on Wednesday next as part of the Wednesday
Night Net.
* Announcement from Bruce: our NEXT PARS MEETING will be A WEEK EARLY.
Brantleys will be closed for the holidays on the last Saturday. Not to
miss out on the festivities, ON THE 20TH OF DECEMBER we will have our
brief regular meeting followed by our ANNUAL GIFT EXCHANGE. Look around,
find something from your shack, the junk box, or garage ham radio
related. Wrap it and bring it. If you buy something, keep it for less
than 20 bucks. And as for the exchange, after you unwrap what you get
from under the tree, if you find someone else willing, you can swap
yours for theirs. Bring the family. Enjoy.
* Hank KW1ZRD talked briefly about the growing local and active “ship”
of Sea Scouts with crew from Oriental to New Bern that is sponsored by
the local Coast Guard Auxiliary. They are looking forward to a short
talk by Bruce about GMRS at their February meeting on the 5th in New
Bern. This could be an introduction to things radio, both marine and
amateur. Future Sea Scout technicians perhaps. He’s hopeful.
* Drawing winners: Ralph AC2GR, a PARS tile by Rick NN2S; Jeff Cunniff,
coax connectors; Anthony N1IG, a PARS logo engraved wine glass. Charlie
WA4GSI had the winning ticket and took home the Brantleys Gift
Certificate (or what was left after paying for his breakfast).
* There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:45am.
PAMLICO EMERGENCY/COMMUNICATIONS NET
There were 15 WinLink check-ins and 15 voice check-ins for the Pamlico
Emergency/Communications Net last Wednesday, November 26th. Of the 15
voice check-ins three were via EchoLink (K2ONN Bermuda Run, KO4MHM
Brevard and K2TNO Greensboro). Mike K4NLC, will call the net this coming
Wednesday and during the rest of December. Wayne KO4OJC takes it in
January, Jim AI4WL in February.
After the normal check-in and any announcements, Mike will ask all to
change to the KO4OJC FM/C4FM/WIRES-X Baird Creek (146.31MHz, neg offset,
CTCSS 131.8) repeater and await a call ON FM. The Baird Creek
Repeater–also known as “Wayne’s World”–is a dual mode repeater so
those with a C4FM capable transceiver and WITH AMS (Automatic Mode
Selection) turned on should be able to hear and respond to FM signals.
However, for this exercise, we ask all to use FM, the common mode for
all. After check-ins are complete we will return to the Oriental
repeater to close out the net.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was moderate during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be moderate with a slight chance for an
X-class flare today, Tuesday and Wednesday. Radio blackouts on the
sunlit Earth reaching the R2 level are likely.
There are 6 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 6 last Monday, 5 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 180,
last Sunday’s was 120. The index is predicted to measure 190 today, 190
Tuesday and 190 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing
average was 144 yesterday. It was 152 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field be quiet to unsettled today, quiet Tuesday and back to quiet
to active Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 7 a.m. this morning was
2.00 indicating quiet conditions.
Look for poor conditions during the day on 80 and 40 Meters, good at
night; good day and night on 30 to 15; good day, poor at night on 12 and
10. As always, we recommend you go to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/
for the latest observations, take them with a grain of salt, then turn
on your radio and make a bunch of contacts.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD048 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–UGANDA, 5X. Anders, SM0HPL, is QRV as 5X7W until December 8. Activity
is on 80 to 10 meters with QRP power, and using CW, FT8, and FT4.
–BHUTAN, A5. Abie, AB1F is QRV as A52AA from Thimphu to December 5.
Activity is on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters using SSB, with a possibility
of 160 and 80 meters.
–EASTER ISLAND, CE0. A group of operators are QRV as 3G0YR to December
3. Activity is on all bands and all modes with four to five stations active.
–ST. HELENA, ZD7. Operators 5Z4VJ, G4BWP, and N6VI are QRV as ZD7VJ,
ZD7WP, and ZD7VI, respectively, until December 7. Activity is on the low
bands, as well as 30, 17, and 12 meters.
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: Three brand new ground rods, copper coated steel, 10 ft long,
5/8 in diameter, $20 each. Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-671-6703,
drmichne73@gmail.com. (20251124)
FOR SALE (reduced price) Husky generator, 5000 watt, 6250 watt starting,
with Subaru engine. Always used non-ethanol gas, & stored inside. With
manual. $200. Al Parker, W8UT, New Bern, email anchor@ec.rr.com
(20251117)(20250922)
GONE: AUDIOTEK AT-PS36 13.8 VDC linear 30-amp power supply.
FOR SALE: Like brand new IC-7300 with side rails in original box and all
documents. Special pricing for PARS members, only $750. Photos on
request. Dennis Had, W4USR, email w4usr@att.net or 919-345-2223 (20251013)
FOR SALE: DRAKE L 4B amp with power supply, Harbuck upgrades in great
condition for its age, Manual. Asking 1200 obo. Scott Pollard at
deputyscoot@gmail.com. (20251013)
SOLD: Fox Hunt Offset Attenuator.
FOR SALE: Yaesu FT 450D . With spare parts radio . Mobile bracket
included. Works great. $450.00 WB2AII, Ken Boniface (252)658-1012 (20251006)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Dec 6, 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
* Dec 20, PARS MONTHLY MEETING and Holiday Gift Exchange, Saturday, 9am,
Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. NOTE CHANGE FROM ORIGINAL
SCHEDULE. 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 FM Oriental (147.210MHz+ CTCSS 88.5Hz) — Operational
GMRS Repeater Oriental (Ch 21, Rptr 7 or 462.700MHz+) — Operational
NC4ES DMR Arapahoe (NC4ES Network)(147.285MHz+ CC1) — Operational
NC4ES FM Arapahoe (147.285MHz+ CTCSS ENC 88.5Hz/DEC 100Hz) — Standby
NC4ES DMR Florence (NC4ES Network)(445.6625MHZ- CC1) — Operational
WM3X-ONC C4FM/WIRES-X NODE Oriental (145.530MHz smplx) — Operational
KO40JC FM/C4FM/WIRES-X Baird Creek (146.310MHz- CTCSS 131.8) — 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. NOTE–ON MONDAY, DEC 1st, this net
will meet on the KO40JC FM/C4FM/WIRES-X Baird Creek (146.310MHz-)
repeater on C4FM to explore interest in a continuing C4FM net.
* 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
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY OFFICERS 2025-2026:
President- Bruce Perkins, K4ONC
Vice President – Wayne Beasley, KO4OJC
Secretary – Jim Hartmeyer, AI4WL
Treasurer – Gail (Wally) Wallace, KK4ASP
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.