PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) February 28, 2026 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.
* Bruce delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally.
* AI4WL’s PROPAGATION Report: After three years and reaching the peak
of cycle 25, sunspot activity is beginning to slow. We have had three
spotless days this month. This morning there were 4 sunspot regions
yielding a Sunspot Number of 53. Nonetheless. members reported the
bands have been active. Anthony, N1IG, has had good success working DX–
including the DXpedition to Guinea-Bissau–with his new long wire
antenna. The official NOAA forecast is for low activity for the next
several days. 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 BOUVET, 3Y ( #10 Club Log Most Wanted);
MALDIVES, 8Q; GUINEA-BISSAU, J5; MINAMI TORISHIMA, JD1 (#32); and
PALAU, T8.
* The next PCT MEETING will a field trip to the Eastern Healthcare
Preparedness Coalition/NC4ES warehouse and mobile communications center.
Matt McMahon WU2V will outline the EHPC’s mission, capabilities, and the
relationship with North Carolina emergency management. All are welcome.
Meet at 8am at the CVS parking lot for ride sharing.
* Mike, K4NLC, reported the Wednesday night net numbers are up, with 19
checking in via voice and 16 or so via WinLink on average every week. He
noted that we recently practiced using simplex and encouraged members to
program their “emergency” radios for both the simplex frequency and the
backup Bairds Creek repeater [FM/WIRES-X Baird Creek (146.310MHz- CTCSS
131.8)-ed] He noted Charlie, KO4YWM, will be the net controller for March.
* The date has been selected for the SPRING FOX HUNT and Picnic. It
will be the last Saturday in May and replace our scheduled PARS meeting.
Expect the hunters to meet at the Station 19 VFD at 0900 for a short
briefing and release. The picnic will be at the Straight Road park and
playground. Nearby clubs will be invited. A 2 fox event is planned, find
the first to find the second.
* Wayne and Bill updated all on recent repeater activity and plans: a
new 44O repeater at Kershaw, a new ARCOM controller for the repeaters at
Kershaw, relocation of the EchoLink node to Kershaw, a replacement YSF
(Yaesu DR2) repeater at Baird Creek with Wires-X and possible other
network linking, GMRS repeaters at Baird Creek and the Marsh QTH on
Truitt Road.
* The Oriental Repeater Group plans to replace the roof on the Kershaw
repeater building by early summer. They plan to do it themselves and may
ask for help. As part of the project, the solar panels and batteries
upgraded with the old solar system relocated to the Arapahoe tower.
* Bill Michne, WM3X, reminded all of the NC QSO party on Sunday and
invited members to use the club call. Dick, advised that contestants
working stations in Pamlico County will be rewarded with bonus points.
Expect pile-ups.
* Brandon Porter, KW4EAS, VP of the New Bern club invited members to
their monthly meetings. He reported on upgrades to the 440 linked
repeater located in Bridgetown, encouraged our use and thanked Wayne and
Bill Olah for their technical assistance.
* Drawing winners: Bill Olah, had the ticket for the Brantleys Gift
Certificate; Robbie KO4KQC, got a bag and key chain; Jim and Mike, Yaesu
caps
* There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10am.
MARCH PCT MEETING – TOUR OF THE EHPC REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER (ROC)
The March PCT Meeting will be a tour of the ROC and a short briefing on
how amateur radio supports regional EMCOMM. It is set for Saturday,
March 7th, 10am to 12pm. If you wish to CAR POOL meet at the CVS
Pharmacy in Grantsboro (NC306 and NC55) at 8am. The approx. travel time
from Oriental to the ROC (2100 Stantonsburg Rd) is 1.5 hrs. PLEASE
CONTACT BRUCE via email at k4onc@aol.com if you will attend.
NORTH CAROLINA QSO PARTY (NCQP)
At least four PARS members (K4JJW, AI4WL, WB2AII, and K4MMB and maybe
more) spent part or most of Sunday operating in the 2026 North Carolina
QSO Party. Since Pamlico County was on the “Rarest of NC” list and worth
up to 50 bonus points they found it fun to be among the “hunted”. Lot’s
of contacts were made so we probably worked our way off that list for
next year. We were appreciated for “being there”. Low key and great fun.
NET NEWS
Last Wednesday, February 25th, we recorded 19 WinLink check-ins and
counted 22 voice check-ins to the Pamlico Communications/Emergency Net.
Of the voice check-ins, two were in/out, four by EchoLink. Eleven
operators switched over to the KO4OJC FM/C4FM/WIRES-X Baird Creek
(146.310MHz, neg offset, CTCSS 131.8) repeater to continue the net until
closing. The Baird Creek Repeater–also known as “Wayne’s World”–is the
primary back-up for the Oriental Repeater. Listen for Charlie
Trenoweth, KO4YWM, next Wednesday. He volunteered to run the net for the
month of March. Please use the normal WinLink net check form.
Monday night C4FM Net. On the 23rd, seven folks participated in the
weekly roundtable hosted by KO4OJC. KO4OJC and KM4PA participated
remotely. 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 low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be low Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There
is a 30% for an M-class flare each day.
There were 5 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth yesterday
at noon. There were none last Monday, 23 Feb.
Monday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 148,
last Sunday’s was 110. The index is predicted to measure 150 today, 150
Tuesday and 152 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing
average was 148 yesterday. It was 150 last Sunday, the 22nd of Feb.
The geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. The SWPC expects the field be
quiet to active today and Wednesday and then quiet to unsettled
Thursday. The planetary K-index at 7 a.m. this morning was 2.33
indicating quiet conditions.
Current conditions: Poor during the day on 80 and 40 Meters, fair at
night; good day and night on 30 & 20; fair day and night 17 & 15; poor
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 ARLD008 DX NEWS and DXWorld.net:
–BOUVET, 3Y. Team Bouvet is finally QRV as 3Y0K. Activity will be on
160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. RTTY, and 60 meter activity may
be later into the DXpedition.
–MALDIVES, 8Q. Lubo, OM5ZW and Laco, OM4WM is QRV as 8Q7ZW from
Thulusdhoo Island, IOTA AS-013, to March 12. Activity will be on 160
through 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. QSL via LoTW.
–GUINEA-BISSAU, J5. A group of operators are QRV as J51A from Bubaque
Island, IOTA AF-020, until March 15. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters
using CW, SSB, and FT8.
–PALAU, T8. Operators OK1BOA, OK2ZA, OK6DJ and OK3RM will be QRV as
T8OK from March 3 to 19. Activity will be on all bands and modes.
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: Yaesu SP-2000 external speaker with protective cover. Perfect
condition. $100.00. Sam/Dave Bacon at davebacon1943@gmail.com. (20260302)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Mar 7, PCT-EHPC ROC TOUR Saturday, 10am-12pm, 2100 Stantonsburg Rd.,
Greenville. All are welcome. For more info/RSVP, contact Bruce Perkins,
K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Mar 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
* May 30, SPRING FOX HUNT and Picnic, Oriental VFD Station 19/Oriental
Dog Park. Straight Road, Oriental. Alternate date, June 6.
SELECTED LOCAL 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)
KE4TZN/Aurora FM/C4FM (145.270MHz- FM CTCSS 131.8) — Operational.
Wires-X and local networks soon.
KE4TZN/Aurora DMR (PRN Network) (440.550MHz+ CC1) — Operational
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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