REALTIME BAND CONDITIONS WEB SITE
We’ve mentioned this site before in the PARSgram and the mention is worth
repeating. Not only are real time band conditions for making CONUS
contacts provided but also for making contacts with hams in various cities
around the world. Glance at the instructions as well as the FAQ. You can
also find propagation info compiled from several sources on this site. Nice
job by K5BIZ
(From the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1213, May 3, 2015)
The purpose of this experimental Web site is to provide 24-7-365 actual
(REALTIME) band condition information to CW QRPp, QRPe and CW/SSB for
Contesters interested in increasing their scores. It can also be of
benefit to other Radio Amateurs to determine band conditions for Nets
and casual QSO’s. This information is NOT based on any software pre-
dictions or any kind of satellite based readings. It is based on a
new Ionospheric sounding method called “HF Ionospheric Interferometry”
which operates very similarly to the PolSAR system used by NASA.
HEARD IN MAY, HERE TO STAY?
It’s May and time for E Layer Propagation or “skip” to arrive on the
VHF bands for the summer. The phenomenon that can often last for hours
several days in a row could be with us for several months. However, it
tends to occur most often in June and then peter out.
Six Meter sideband openings offering long distance skip for DownEast NC
appear to be starting late again this year. Propagation maps are
indicating significant E-layer clouds scattered around the US some
mornings and evenings. They tend to move across the US from the southeast to
northwest. If your signal refracts off one of these clouds you’re in luck.
These band openings are just in time for the last of the Spring VHF/UHF
series sprints. The 50 MHz Sprint is from 2300Z (7 pm EDT) Saturday, May 9,
to 0300Z Sunday, May 10. These events are great fun and they are
short,. You need only to exchange your grid square. For more info go to
https://sites.google.com/site/springvhfupsprints/2015-information
Heads-up! The ARRL JUNE VHF Contest is coming soon, June 13-15.
ARMED FORCES DAY CROSSBAND COMMUNICATIONS TEST THIS COMING WEEKEND
(Extracted from http://www.arrl.org/news/ )
The annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Communications Test set for Saturday
and Sunday, May 9-10, will offer Amateur Radio operators a chance to try
their hand at using more modern military communications modes, such as
MIL-STD Serial PSK. Also new this year is the inclusion of a crossband
Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) test. The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine
Corps, and Coast Guard cosponsor the joint military/Amateur Radio event
which this year marks the 65th Armed Forces Day and the 90th anniversary of
the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS). Armed Forces Day 2015 falls on
May 16, but the crossband test is held on the earlier weekend to accommodate
those visiting Dayton Hamvention May 15-17.
The annual event is a unique opportunity to test two-way communication
between Amateur Radio and military stations. It features the traditional
military-to-amateur crossband SSB voice, CW, MT63, and AMTOR FEC, plus
MIL-STD Serial PSK and ALE, both new this year.
The event features military to amateur cross band communications SSB voice
tests and copying the Secretary of Defense message via digital modes.
Participating military stations will transmit on selected Military MARS
frequencies and listen for amateur radio stations in the Amateur bands. The
military station operator will announce the specific amateur band frequency
being monitored.
Complete information including lists of stations, times, and modes can
be found at
https://www.sites.google.com/site/armymarsportal//home/announcements.
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 C8
flare observed at 04/0054Z. There are 4 numbered sunspot regions on the disk
facing Earth. The sunspot count this morning is 67, not much better than
the 55 reported by NOAA last week. The Solar Flux Index (SFI) is 111, just
down from the 119 in our last PARSgram. The forecast shows the SFI rising a
little to reach 120 on Wednesday. According to the Space Weather Prediction
Center, solar activity is expected to stay low through Wednesday.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. The
geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet today, quiet to unsettled Tuesday
and quiet to active on Wednesday when the polar regions should see stormy
conditions. The K-index was reported by NOAA to be a quiet 2 at 0800 local
this morning.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
OGASAWARA, JD1. A group of operators are QRV as JD1YBT from
Chichi-jima, IOTA AS-031, until May 11. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters
using all modes with three stations active simultaneously. QSL via JP1IOF
QSO QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event
Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Where have all the signals gone?
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 :
* 09/1200Z May-10/2400Z Armed Forces Comm’ns Test
* 09/1200Z May-10/1200Z CQ-M International DX Contest
* 09/1200Z May-10/2359Z Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon
* 09/1700Z May-10/1700Z Nevada Mustang Roundup
* 09/1700Z May-09/2100Z FISTS Spring Sprint
* 09/2300Z May-10/0300Z 50 MHz Spring Sprint
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.)
DXPEDITIONS TO WATCH FOR
(Courtesy of the [DX] Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1213, May 3, 2015)
E6, NIUE. Members and operators of the UK group “6-G”, most of
whom formed the TX6G (Austral) expedition in 2014, will be active as E6GG
from Niue (OC-040) for two weeks in the second half of September 2015. The
team will be comprised of Don/G3BJ, Chris/G3SVL, Nigel/G3TXF, David/G3WGN,
Mike/G3WPH, Hilary/G4JKS and Justin/G4TSH. QSL via G3TXF. Look for more
details and Web page to be forthcoming.
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
——————–
* FOR SALE– MFJ-1796 1/2 wave vertical, 2-40 meters, except the 2 and
6 meter radiators have been misplaced. No guarantee they will be found. Does
come with manual and spare radiators. Has 2 QSOs to its credit. Includes a
couple 10 foot pipes for mounting. Assembled, and elements already trimmed.
SWR depends on location and height. $130, which is half the new price. The
price will come down until someone buys it.
Jim Scheer, W4NLD, Jim.scheer@gtri.gatech.edu, or cell or text at
253-876-3733 (20150420)
* 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)
* FOR SALE–[ Remaining major items from estate of Jim Reynolds,W4YLO.
Proceeds go directly to his widow, Peggy.]
ICOM PS-125 25 amp pwr supply. Orig. price $399
Price is $175.
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 $3000 firm, – pickup in New Bern, can ship but buyer pays.
FOR INFO OR PIX contact Al, W8UT, email anchor@ec.rr.com
(20150330,20150413, 20150420)
——————–
(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 REGIONAL HAMFESTS:
A complete list can be found on your PARS Website, www.n4prs.org
PARS CALENDAR:
* 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. This is an informal forum originally
established to assist our new Hams. The frequency is in the 10M voice
segment open to technician licensees and above. Radio related
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.
ABOUT THE PARSgram
The PARSgram is a weekly email publication for members of the Pamlico
Amateur Radio Society (PARS), an association of amateur radio operators
located in, near, or from Pamlico County, North Carolina. The PARSgram
contains announcements and information about current and planned activities
of the Society and other items of specific interest to its members. Except
to summarize information related to Solar Activity or announce expeditions
of amateur radio operators to unique distant places, special event stations,
and contests, it does not generally repeat information available elsewhere.
The PARSgram does offer a means to make known to its subscribers radio
equipment and other related items for sale or trade. Since PARS members may
have limited internet access, the PARSgram is sent in text format and kept
relatively short. Log on to the PARS Website at https://www.n4prs.org/ for
longer news articles, photos, archived PARSgrams and more. We are always
looking for items of specific interest to our members to put in the
PARSgram. If you run across a timely item or think of something you think
would interest our folks, please send it to me at jth350@embarqmail.com. —
Jim Hartmeyer, AI4WL, Editor (20150406)
Jim, AI4WL