PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) SEP 26, 2026 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-two members, visitors and guests attended the 9am Saturday
breakfast meeting at Brantley’s Village Restaurant chaired by President
Bruce Perkins, K4ONC. Bruce welcomed Matt Morrisey KD8GHN and his XYL
visiting from Ohio.
* Dick K4JJW, asked “What do we do with old QSL cards? Suggestions
included digitize them; use them for educational purposes e.g., give DX
cards to schools to stimulate history/geography class; frame best, chuck
the rest.
* Bruce delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally.
* AI4WL’s PROPAGATION Report: Jim reported the numbers noting that
after three years with no days without sunspots, in 2026 so far we’ve
had four days without. Currently, the best bands for DX and general
operation are the 30 and 20 meter bands. ClubLog log uploads (960,000
QSO’s this month) confirm 20M as most active band (231K QSOS), then 40M
(211K), followed by 15M (150K) and 17M (100K). And, move over old
timers, it’s getting quiet on the voice bands. The most active modes
[HF-ed.] today based on ClubLog logged QSO’s: FT8 69.7%, CW 15.37%, SSB
9.14%, FT4 4.57%, all others less than 1%.
* Look for Bill Olah KR4LO, to take the PAMLICO COMM NET during
October. Bruce finishes next Wednesday
* The next PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM meeting will be Saturday, Oct
3rd at 9am at Station 19. Bruce will have the updated PACE Plan. The PCT
io.group email list is nearly complete.
* Paul K4MMB, reports our N4PRS web site is “still up” and still active
with 349 looks last month, many lookers looking at 6-7 pages. Most are
domestic viewers.
* The tower climb to replace three antennas and one hardline now
expected in October or even later. Antenna availability now biggest
issue. Climbers are standing by. An Oriental Repeater Group meeting
follows this one.
* The annual election of PARS officers is at the October meeting. Wally
KK4ASP, and Jim AI4WL, have agreed to stand for re-election as Treasurer
and Secretary respectively. Bill Michne, WM3X, leads the nomination
committee active search for candidates.
* PARS-ware. Blacksheep Printing in Alliance is setting up a web page
for us to order PARS logo shirts and other item for pick-up or mail.
Check your PARSgram for when we can start using it.
* Our next meeting and the annual election is Saturday Oct 31st,
Halloween. Costumes encouraged (or not).
* Charlie WA4GSI is again changing his antenna strategy. His Rohn tower
and Zero-5 vertical are for sale. Asking $1,000, have trailer will
deliver locally.
* Bill O, is working on donated Kenwood and other estate equipment.
* Lor Kutchins W3QA, gave a most interesting Show & Tell on evolving
LoRa communications technology, the two current variants being
Meshtastic and Meshcore. Both are free, open-source, off-grid
communication systems that allow users to send encrypted text messages
over long distances using relatively inexpensive LoRa (Long Range) UHF
industrial band radio hardware without needing cell service or the
internet. No FCC license required. Meshcore uses smart routing to
destination node, allows tracking (like APRS), each leg is short (LOS)
2-10 mi. Newer, community based, Meshcore has less overload/traffic
clogging.
* Drawing winners: Eric KG4ISY and Charlie T. KO4YWM each took home a
grab bag with surprise(s) inside, John KB1KW had the ticket for the
Brantleys Gift Certificate.
* There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 am.
NET NEWS
We had seven folks folks for the Monday night Wayne’s World C4FM
round-table on Sep 21st. Besides Wayne KO4OJC, they included, KR4LO,
KR4CYB, AC2GR, AI4WL, KR4CYB and KR4COD. Wires-X keying, boat dock
construction, support for the big MS bike ride, the again reachable
Grifton repeater, were all mentioned during the short net. It closed
around 8:05pm. For local users via RF, the repeater’s on 145.390MHz.
Remote users can join via the Wires-X room, it’s “KO4OJC-Room 3” (ID 64163).
On Wednesday, Bruce K4ONC, recorded 13 WinLink PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS
NET check-ins. Ten sent theirs as a WinLink Net Log. Twenty-two
operators checked to the voice net. Seven tried to check-in via EchoLink
including one from Spain. Four made it. After check-in, all were asked
for their views on PCN training. They were varied. Suggestions included
less practice on the use of Winlink forms, build emergency stations for
and practice simplex connectivity for a world without repeaters, and
training to use WinLink email to communicate with internet users in an
emergency.
FOR THIS WEDNESDAY, Sep 30th, please use the regular WinLink net
check-in. A “talk around”/rag chew will follow the voice check-in.
Note for EchoLink Users: Please do not use the net for testing or
adjusting your EchoLink service. Contact KO4OJC or AI4WL if you need
help. AND please do not use EchoLink for the net unless you are outside
the local area and beyond repeater RF range. Such use is not in keeping
with the purposes of the net.
Bruce K4ONC, Ant N1IG and Jim AI4WL joined Charlie WA4GSI on Thursday,
Sep 24th for a short DOWNEAST/PAMLICO COUNTY 6M Net. Antenna challenges
never end. Make that OCF work on 6M; join us Thursdays at 8pm on 50.200
MHz for a brief chin-wag.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported 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 10% chance for an M-class today.
Activity is expected to be very low Tuesday and Wednesday with a chance
for C-class flares.
There were 4 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth yesterday
at noon. There were 4 last Sunday.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 97,
last Sunday’s was 101. The index is predicted to measure 98 today, 100
Tuesday, 105 Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was 121
yesterday. It was 125 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to be quiet today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The planetary
K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was 1.00 indicating quiet conditions.
Current conditions (1145Z/28Sep26): fair day on 80 and 40 Meters, good
at night; good day and night on 30 & 20; fair day and night 17 & 15;
poor day, poor at night on 12 and 10. 6M closed. Please go to
https://www.n4prs.org/looking-
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD038 DX NEWS and DXWorld.net:
–8Q, MALDIVES. Juergen, DL3JH, is QRV as 8Q7JH from Thulhagiri Island,
IOTA AS-013. Activity is on 20, 15, and 10 meters using various modes.
–FH, MAYOTTE. Ludovic, F1TEQ, will be QRV as FH/F1TEQ from Mayotte,
IOTA AF-027, to September 30. Activity will be on HF using various modes.
–JD1, OGASAWARA. Take, JE1NVD/JD1, and Koji, JI1CRM/JD1, will be QRV
from Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands, to October 6. Activity will be on
the HF bands using various modes.
–VK9W, WILLIS ISLAND. Sands, VK4WXW is QRV as VK9WX from Willis Island
Australian Bureau of Meteorology station through late October. Activity
is on HF bands using various modes.
–AlSO look for AMERICAN SAMOA, MARIANA ISL, VANUATU and more. See
www.DXWorld.net.
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.
NEW FOR SALE:
1. Henry 3K-A amplifier. Easy full legal power with 100w input. $595
2. Cushman 5100 service monitor. 1 MHZ to 1 GHZ, with
instruction/service manual, cover, whip antenna. $395.
3. Hallicrafters SX-73 receiver. This is Halli’s version of the
Hammarlund SP-600 rcvr. Built to Mil-spec. With service info. $295.
4. Hammarlund HX-500 transmitter. With service info. $295.
I have owned and used each of these items for over 10 yrs.
Al, W8UT, New Bern, anchor@ec.rr.com, 252-258-6431 cellfone. (20260928)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Oct 3, 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
* Oct 31, PARS MONTHLY MEETING/ANNUAL ELECTION, Saturday, 9am,
Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bruce
Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
SELECTED LOCAL REPEATER/NODE/BEACON STATUS
(See www.n4prs.org/frequencies/ for set-up)
N4ONC VHF FM/EchoLink Oriental (147.210MHz+ CTCSS 88.5Hz) — Operational
N4ONC VHF FM/C4FM-YSF/Wires-x Oriental (145.390MHz- FM CTCSS 100.0Hz) —
Operational.
N4ONC UHF FM Oriental (444.350MHz+ ENC 85.4Hz) — Standby
GMRS Repeater WSFL439 Oriental (Ch 29, Rptr 7 or 462.700MHz+) — Operational
NC4ES DMR Arapahoe (NC4ES Network)(147.285MHz+ CC1) — Operational
locally. NC4ES network temporarily unavailable.
NC4ES FM Arapahoe (147.285MHz+ ENC 88.5Hz/DEC 100Hz) — Operational
in dual mode with DMR.
NC4ES DMR Florence (NC4ES Network)(445.6625MHZ- CC1) — Operational
WM3X-ONC C4FM/WIRES-X NODE Oriental (145.530MHz smplx) — Operational
KE4TZN Aurora FM/C4FM-YSF/WIRES-X (145.270MHz- FM CTCSS 131.8) —
Operational
KE4TZN Aurora DMR (PRN Network) (440.550MHz+ CC1) — Operational locally
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Mondays, “Wayne’s World C4FM Net”, 7:30 pm local, using the C4FM
digital mode on the N4ONC Oriental FM/C4FM/WIRES-X repeater
(145.390MHz). Those outside RF range may join via Wires-X room
“KO4OJC-Room 3″ (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 as the “Pamlico Emergency Net”
when necessary.
* 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-director
PARS WEBSITE: https://www.n4prs.org/
Our Web Master is Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, PARSwebman@gmail.com. You can find
archived PARSgrams, articles, meeting notes, propagation information,
and photos of PARS activities there. Paul welcomes articles and
especially photos of member activities.
73, Jim AI4WL Editor
——–
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