PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) MARCH 2015 MEETING NOTES
* Thirty-four PARS members and guests attended the breakfast meeting
chaired by President Bill Olah, KR4LO, at Brantley’s in Oriental Saturday.
* “Wally” Wallace KK4ASP presented the treasurers report. 2015 membership
renewals are still slowly coming in. She will provide an updated roster
soon.
* Mike K4HPS gave the ARES Report. There were four drills during the
month generating 7.63 man hours. He plans to attend the Area 3/4 Meeting on
April 18th in Warsaw, NC.
* With few days being exceptions, solar activity has been declining
according to Jim AI4WL. He noted that the bands will be active this weekend
with the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest. Look for South Cook Island, Reunion Island,
“Pleasant Island”, and Cyprus this week
* Larry KK4SEO advised that Greg KM4DZM has been producing significant new
content on the club website. Check it out at www.n4prs.org
* The club’s 5KW generator will go on the auction block at the April
meeting according to Bill Olah. Although it works well, it’s too noisy to
use at our present Field Day site. Member owned small Honda generators will
be used instead. He also advised that the club will continue to assist with
the annual cost of insurance for the equipment at the Oriental Repeater.
The repeater is owned by member Chris Mele W4SLH. She provides it as a key
asset in emergencies and for use by the ham community at large.
* Bill noted that the Kingston Hamfest is being held today. It has been in
conflict with the March PARS meeting in recent years. He proposed if this is
the case next year that the club meeting be held in Kingston that day. A
significant number voiced approval.
* The “Fox” for the coming Fox Hunt was demonstrated by Bill. Still planned
for sometime this Spring, it will be followed by a lunch for the hunters.
Randy K4WRD showed a homemade “tape-measure yagi” and attenuator. Members
should contact Randy or Bill if interested in a session to construct their
own handheld antenna.
* Field Day planning is on track. Mike K4NLC has started a list for those
wanting either a cap, shirt or both. [See page 106 or 112 of the April QST
Magazine for color and design]. Contact Mike to get yours at 636-1257 or
mike@marshconsulting.org
* Pete Zawasky AG7C recommended reading the editorial on remote operating
in the April QST Magazine [page 9] . Evolving technologies have made it
easier to do, but the proliferation of remoting raises new concerns,
especially regarding contesting and awards programs. That said, Pete
offered his experience for those interested in pursuing remoting their
operation. [Pete’s email is pzawasky@pzef.net ]
* Pete also reported success getting FLDIGI running on his Raspberry Pi
pocket computer and offered help to those wanting into the Raspberry Pi
computing world.
* Tom Corwin KI4NSP talked about a number of things that members can do to
bring new folks into the hobby and the club. They included dropping no
longer wanted magazines at public frequented places like doctors offices,
barber/beauty shops, libraries; providing license manuals to the school,
college, and public library; a float in the Croakerfest Parade. And for our
new hams, encouraging participation in the Monday Night 10 Meter roundtable,
the SKYWARN NET, and of course, the Pamlico Emergency Net on Wednesday
nights. He advised that he now is storing a club owned handheld for short
term loan to members without one.
PARS WEBSITE — A QUICK SURVEY
Larry, our Webmaster, has put a very short 6 question multiple choice
questionnaire on line to help improve our PARS website. It will take less
than a minute to complete. Please take that minute after you read this
PARSgram to provide your input. Thanks. Here’s the link:
https://kwiksurveys.com/app/rendersurvey.asp?sid=u8bazgyn82i8ws7498951&refer=
CLUB HANDHELD AVAILABLE FOR LOAN
For new PARS hams or those awaiting repair of their HT, the club has a dual
band Icom handheld available for short term loan. It is pre-programmed for
the local repeaters. For more info or to pick up near Janerio (Arapahoe),
contact Tom Corwin, KI4NSP, at 249-1590.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was low during the 24 hours ending
yesterday at 5 pm local. The largest recent solar event was a C4 event
observed this morning at 30/0152Z. There are 5 numbered sunspot regions on
the disk facing Earth, none active. The sunspot count this morning is 73,
down from the 88 reported by NOAA last week. However, the Solar Flux Index
is 145, up 25 from the 120 in our last PARSgram. The forecast shows the SFI
dropping to 140 today but then rising to 150 on Wednesday. According to the
Space Weather Prediction Center, solar activity is expected to be low with a
1 in 4 chance for M-class flares each day through Wednesday.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active yesterday.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be at unsettled to minor storm levels
(G1) today and tomorrow and quiet to active on Wednesday. The K-index was
reported by NOAA to be a quiet 1 at 0800 local this morning.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
C2, NAURU. Operators Ernoe/DK2AMM, Guenter/DL2AWG, Hans/DL6JGN
and Ron/PA3EWP will be active as C21EU from Nauru (OC-031) between March
25th and April 4th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY
and possibly PSK. They will have two K3 with two 600w amps into a 5 band
Spiderbeams and some verticals. QSL via DL2AWG. If possible, they will
upload their log daily to ClubLog. [Carried over from last week. Not
easy….]
QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event
Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Very quiet. No reports.
OTHER ACTIVITY ON THE RADIO:
This info is extracted from the ARRL Letter, from the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar, the ARRL Contest Update or the ARRL Contest Corral. You can
receive the Letter weekly via email as a member of ARRL :
* Apr 3, 0001Z – Apr 12, 2359Z Lighthouse Spring Lites QSO Party
* Apr 4, 1200Z – Apr 5, 2359Z QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party
* Apr 4, 1400Z – Apr 5, 0159Z Texas State Parks Contest
* Apr 4, 1400Z – Apr 5, 0200Z Mississippi QSO Party
* Apr 4, 1400Z – until… Missouri QSO Party
* Apr 4, 1500Z – Apr 5, 1500Z SP DX Contest
* Apr 4, 1600Z – Apr 5, 1600Z EA RTTY Contest
* Apr 4, 1800Z – Apr 5, 1800Z Montana QSO Party
See the ARRL Contest Branch page
ARRL Contest Update http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update/ and the
WA7BNM Contest Calendar
for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the
ARRL Special Event Station Web page
a LIST OF STATE QSO PARTIES, see
http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/stateparties.html. (State QSO parties
and the W1AW Centennial Stations are a great way to get those last states on
your Worked All States (WAS) Award list.)
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
——————–
* NEW LISTING, FOR SALE — Shakespeare 5309-R VHF Antenna.Used.23 Feet.Two
piece.West Marine $599.00.Best reasonable offer.Ralph AC2GR 252-649-1212
(20150330)
* LAST CHANCE ON THESE ITEMS BEFORE THEY GO TO RALEIGH SATURDAY–
Jim Reynolds, W4YLO, became an SK 2 wks ago. Proceeds from sales of
these items go directly to his widow, Peggy.
The following 3 items were bought new by Jim in July, 2011, cc of
invoice available. They received little use before he was “enrolled” in
a nursing home about a yr ago. Exc. for the AH-4, I (W8UT) have checked
all of these out in operation.
Icom IC-7600 HF/6M transceiver in Excellent shape in the original box
with the Original manual, schematics, desk microphone, and power cord.
Built-in high-speed automatic antenna tuner. Face and cabinet are in
excellent shape. Orig. price $3,599.99, bought 7/13/2011. Priced at $2600,
or $2750 with the PS-126. Add $150 if AH-4 wanted also.
ICOM PS-126 25 amp pwr supply. Orig. price $399.99, bought 7/13/2011.
Price is $200, only if not sold with the 7600.
ICOM AH-4 long wire Antenna Tuner with cables. Unit was rarely used and
mounted indoors only. Great condition. Orig. price $319.99, bought 7/13/2011
Sell at $175, only if not sold with the 7600
ICOM PW1 High Frequency Linear Amplifier – HF/50 MHz All Band 1+ kW out
Automatic antenna tuner built-in. This was bought on Jan. 7, 2012, and
has had little use. Has orig. box, manual, remote head and cables.
Original price $4,649.95 (cc invoice available). Will sell for $3500
FOR INFO OR PIX contact Al, W8UT, email anchor@ec.rr.com (20150330)
* FOR SALE — Lightly used Ameritron AL-811H in good working order.
Output power is 800 Watts PEP, 600 Watts CW. It uses four rugged, fully
neutralized low cost 811A PA tubes. A backup set of four tubes is included
with the amplifier. The dimensions are 8 ¼” x 13 ¾” x 15 ½”. The operating
weight is 32 lbs. I am the second purchaser/owner of this amplifier. The
first owner is an active PARS member. This Amplifier has the factory
modification for operation on 10 meters. A copy of the manual is included.
Asking $550. Contact Bill Cresswell, K2ONN at 252-249-0148. (20150126)
* FOR SALE — Yaesu FT 450 Transceiver, MD 100 desk mike and a Pyramid
35 amp power supply. All for $650 and can be seen in action at my QTH to
check it out. All you will need is an antenna to be on the air. Charlie
Overcash, WA4GSI, charlie@dockline.net or 252-249-1257. (20150126).
——————–
(Send me your amateur radio related items for sale, trade, or wanted for
listing in the PARSgram. PLEASE let me know if your listing is no longer
needed. ITEMS listed will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear
otherwise.–Jim).
UPCOMING HAMFESTS:
* April 4, 2015: 43rd Annual RARSfest/North Carolina State Convention,
Raleigh Amateur Radio Society, State Fairgrounds,
Raleigh, NC, http://www.rars.org/rarsfest
*** A complete list can be found on your PARS Website, www.n4prs.org
PARS CALENDAR:
* Apr 25, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
* May 30, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
* Jun 27-28, ARRL Field Day, Saturday, 2 pm – Sunday, 2 pm. Neuse Drive,
Oriental. Mike Marsh, 636-1257 or mike@marshconsulting.org
PARS NETS:
* Mondays, Pete’s “Swamp Talk” roundtable, around 8:15 pm local,
28.463 MHz plus or minus, USB. Since this is an informal forum originally
established to assist our new Hams, this frequency is in the 10M voice
segment open to technician licensees and above. Radio
topics/questions/issues welcomed.
* Wednesdays, Pamlico Emergency Net Practice and Rag Chew, 7:30 pm,
Oriental Repeater, 147.210 + (PL151.4).
PARS WEB SITE:
https://www.n4prs.org/
Web Master is Larry Wall, KK4SEO, wallmailbox@yahoo.com.
PARSgram ITEMS
We are always looking for items of interest to PARS members to put in
the PARSgram. If you run across a timely item or think of something you
believe would interest our folks, please send it to me. Thanks.
Jim AI4WL