PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) January 31, 2026 MEETING NOTES
The January meeting was cancelled. Our meeting venue, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, did not open due to the impending major winter storm. This
storm was expected to set new records for cold, wind, and snow posing a
risk for both customers and employees. It did arrive as expected. Our
next general meeting will be on Saturday, February 28th. All are invited
to the Pamlico Communications Team meeting this coming Saturday,
February 7th 9am, Oriental VFD Station 19.
NET NEWS
Wayne KO4OJC reported 18 WinLink check-ins and we counted 22 voice
check-ins for the Pamlico Emergency/Communications Net last Wednesday,
January 28th. There were four check-ins via EchoLink: Pete AG7C from
Washington NJ, Bill K2ONN from Bermuda Run, Paul KM4PA from Brevard and
Bill K2TNO from Greensboro. After check-in, members were asked to
comment on their preparations for the possible big weekend storm. I
(AI4WL) will call the net this coming Wednesday. The question for
Wednesday, is there anything else or different you will do “next time”.
Monday night C4FM Net: On the 26th, seven folks participated in the
weekly roundtable hosted by KO4OJC. For local users via RF it’s on
146.310MHz and remote users via Wires-X room “KO4OJC-Room 3” (ID 64163).
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was high during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. Radio blackouts reaching the R3 level
occurred. The Space Weather Prediction Center expects solar activity to
be moderate with a 75% chance for M-class and 25% for X-class flares
today, Tuesday and Wednesday. Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are
expected.
There are 7 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 9 last Monday, 8 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 162,
last Sunday’s was 165. The index is predicted to measure 160 today, 155
Tuesday and 155 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing
average was 151 yesterday. It was 150 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. The SWPC expects the field be
quiet today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 7 a.m.
this morning was 1.67 indicating quiet conditions.
Current conditions: Poor during the day on 80 and 40 Meters, good at
night; good day and night on 30 & 20; good day and night 17 & 15; good
day, poor at night on 12 and 10. Please go to
https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD004 DX NEWS and DXWorld.net:
–DESECHEO ISLAND, KP5. A group of operators are QRV using remote
control as KP5/NP3VI until February 14. Activity is on 160 through 10
meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. Desecho was #14 on the Jan 9th most
wanted list.
–MAURITIUS, 3B8. Matt, DL5PT, is QRV as 3B8/DL5PT from Flic-en-Flac
until the end of March. Activity is in his spare time on 20 through 10
meters using FT8.
–SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS. Gabriel, LU1WGB, is QRV as LU1WGB/Z from the
Joint Antarctic Base Orcadas on Laurie Island, IOTA AN-008, until
February 22. Activity is in his spare time on the HF bands using FT8.
–INDONESIA, YB. Dave, PB2X is QRV as YB5/PB2X from Sumatra, IOTA
OC-143, until February 5. Activity is on 80 through 10 meters, including
30, 17, and 12 meters, using CW, SSB, and FT8.
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 60 DAYS unless I hear otherwise. Thanks, Jim.
FOR SALE: SWR/wattmeters: MFJ-868 Giant SWR/Wattmeter, 20/200/2,000
watt ranges, 1.8 – 30 MHz, $150. Mirage MP2 VHF SWR/wattmeter,
50/500/1500 watt ranges, 50 – 200 MHz, $125. Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-671-6703, drmichne73@gmail.com. (20251208)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Feb 7, 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
* Feb 28, 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/BEACON 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.
Cedar Isl Mark’s Beacons: K4FWS/b FM14ux 144.282 CW; K1MAP/b FM14ux
222.055 CW; K1MAP/b FM14ux 432.305 CW (Very low power for rcvr,
propagation tests)
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Mondays, “Wayne’s World C4FM Net”, 7:30 pm local, using the C4FM
digital mode on the KO40JC FM/C4FM/WIRES-X repeater, Baird Creek
(146.310MHz). Those outside RF range may join via Wires-X room
“KO4OJC-Room 3″ (DTMF ID 64163). This is a round-table open to all.
Discussions vary with member interest. 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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