FIELD DAY ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
A few hams will meet at 8 am this Thursday morning, May 12, at Brantley’s
Restaurant in Oriental to determine the interest in and level of a PARS
presence during this year’s Field Day, the fourth weekend in June. Those
interested are invited to join Bill, WM3X, Glenn, N4LV, and me, AI4WL. for
breakfast. If you cannot attend but wish to operate sometime during Field
Day weekend, please let us know by contacting one of us or replying to this
PARSgram. Your response will help decide whether to proceed. Jim, AI4WL.
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) APR 30, 2016 MEETING NOTES
CORRECTIONS–
Mike Hurm’s ARES report should read: ” Mike Hurm, K4HPS, our Pamlico County
ARES EC, reported 5 Pamlico Emergency Nets in March for 15.2 man-hours; 4 in
April for 6.94 MH….” This corrects an error in the number of Pamlico
Emergency Net practices in March. Sorry Mike–ed.
We wish also to apologize for the typographical error in the spelling of our
PARS President’s last name–it’s Olah of course, not Olay. Sorry Bill-ed.
VHF/UHF SPRING SPRINTS END SATURDAY EVENING
This is the last of several Spring Sprints for VHF/UHF “weak signal”
fans. These sprints run for only four hours. May 14th is the night for the
6 Meter band: Saturday, 5/14/16 from 2300Z until 0300Z Sunday, 5/10/15. Look
for activity to be on or above the calling frequency of 50.125 MHz or if
using CW, below 50.100 MHz. If conditions are good, you can expect single
hop contacts of 1,200 miles or more. If not, Raleigh may be as far as you
can go. The object is to work as many amateur stations in as many 2 degree
by 1 degree grid squares as possible so you need to look up your grid
square. If you gave your “plus four” zip code when you applied for your
license, the grid square assigned in QRZ.com (details) is probably accurate.
You should give your 4 digit grid square, e.g., FM15, as part of the
exchange. Complete details can be found at
https://sites.google.com/site/springvhfupsprints/2016-information.
GARY T. COFFEE, K4AVC, SK
Sadly we report the passing of Gary Coffee, K4AVC, on April 27, 2016 at the
age of 79. A long time member of the Monday night 10 Meter Roundtable, Gary
was also a fan of British sports cars and an avid gardener. He lived in
Morehead City. Our condolences go to Gary’s wife Linda and his family.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours ending
yesterday at 5 pm local. The most recent activity was a B9 flare at
0523Z this morning. There are 3 numbered sunspot regions on the disk facing
Earth. The sunspot count is 42, well down from the 76 reported by NOAA last
week. The Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 84 yesterday at noon, also down, this
from the 94 recorded a week ago at Penticton. According to the Space Weather
Prediction Center, solar activity is expected to be very low for the next
three days with just a chance for C-class flares. The NOAA forecast has the
SFI rising to reach 90 on Wednesday. The 90 day trailing average is 94,
down two from last week. The downward creep continues.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field activity reached severe storm levels
yesterday. According to spaceweather.com, “At their most intense on May 8th,
G3-class storms sparked bright auroras around both poles, parts of four
continents, and more than a half a dozen US states. In Antarctica,
everything turned green”. They are subsiding now, The field is forecast to
be at unsettled to minor storm levels today and Tuesday then quiet to active
on Wednesday. The Kp-index was reported to be a quiet 3 at 8 a.m. local
this morning. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are likely.
Expect only fair conditions on 30 and 20 Meters and poor on the higher
bands. Poor day and fair night conditions expected on 80 and 40. According
to DXmaps, those on 6 Meters yesterday evening and this morning have been
using a variety of modes including Tropo, E layer skip, aurora, and meteor
burst–pick your poison!
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
One for KI4NSP and our other Ice Hockey fans–
EUROPEAN RUSSIA, UA. A number of stations will be using the prefix
R16 during the Ice Hockey World Championships from May 6 to 22, with
each call representing the participating nations and match
locations. QSL via operators’ instructions.
QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event
Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Again, no reports, maybe because of the storms.
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 :
* 14/1400-15/0200Z May Arkansas QSO Party, CW Ph Dig, 3.5-28, 144 MHz
* 14/1400-15/2359Z May MARAC USA QSO Party, CW, 3.5-28
* 14/1500-15/1500Z May Portuguese Navy Day Contest, CW Ph, 3.5-28
* 14/1700-14/2100Z May FISTS Spring Unlimited Sprint, CW, 3.5-28
* 14/2300-15/0300Z May 50 MHz Spring Sprint, CW Ph Dig, 50
See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the
ARRL Contest Update http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update/ and the
WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html>
for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the
ARRL Special Event Station Web page<http://www.arrl.org/special-events>. For
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 FOR SALE–
The following equipment is being sold because I no longer have the time to
use it or the space to store it. Unless otherwise noted, all units are
fully functional at or above their manufacturer specifications.
Cosmetically they are 9+ out of 10, showing only signs of routine use.
Asking prices are based on the average of recent completed transactions for
the same or similar units on eBay, or are approximately one half of the
original price, and are believed to represent the current market value.
Pictures are available on request. Shipping if necessary is not included.
Local pickup is preferred. All sales are final. Contact Bill Michne at
252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com.
Heathkit HW-9 CW QRP transceiver. Covers 250 kHz of the following bands:
80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meters. Includes PSA-9 power supply,
HFT-9A antenna tuner, and HM-9 SWR/watt meter. I am the original
owner/builder. The transceiver circuit is original with the exception of
the replacement of two capacitors in the keying circuit to improve the
keying wave shape, as recommended by AB7MY. Using only simple wire
antennas, in the last year I have worked all states and 27 DX entities with
this rig. $400.00.
Yaesu FT-897 HF/VHF/UHF all mode transceiver. Maximum power outputs are:
160-6 meter, 100 W; 2 meters, 50 W; 70 cm, 25 W. Includes the FC-30
automatic antenna tuner, YF-122C narrow filter for CW/digital modes, and
MMB-80 mounting bracket. Does not include the internal batteries for
portable operation as I never purchased them. $700.00.
Ten Tec Omni VI HF transceiver. Includes the matching Ten Tec power
supply/speaker, the narrow filter for CW/digital modes and an Astatic D-104
microphone. This radio has outstanding audio characteristics on transmit.
$1200.00.
Ten Tec Titan 425 legal limit linear amplifier. This unit consists of a
lightweight desktop RF deck containing the two 3CX800A7 ceramic tubes and a
separate remote power supply with hypersil transformer. The RF deck can be
switched between HV ranges, the higher one for full legal limit output, and
the lower one for high duty cycle modes such as RTTY. The unit features an
overdrive limit circuit to protect the tubes, and a rapid switching circuit
for preventing “hot switching” during QSK and VOX operation. $1200.00.
Kenwood TS-830S ham band transceiver. Includes the matching SP-230 speaker,
the VFO-230 digital VFO, and the MC-50 microphone. The unit has a full
complement of Fox Tango filters for both CW/RTTY and SSB operation
installed. These filters have very steep skirts to provide exquisite
selectivity. This is a hybrid radio, mostly solid state, but with tubes in
the driver and final amplifier stages. The sale includes two sets of
replacement tubes. I recently had the radio professionally restored to full
original specifications. $800.00.
Kenwood TS-940S solid state 160-10 meters transceiver and general coverage
receiver. This radio does not transmit, and has limited receive function.
If the transmit function can be reestablished it is probably worth
repairing. Otherwise it is good for parts. $75.00.
Realistic DX-300 shortwave receiver. It works, but would benefit from some
internal tweaking and alignment. $25.00.
(20160509)
*FOR SALE — Back on the list:
Yaesu FT-450 Transceiver, MD 100 desk mike and a Pyramid
35 amp power supply. All for $550 and the FT-450 alone for $450. All you
will need is an antenna to be on the air. Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI,
charlie@dockline.net or 252-249-1257. (20160509).
* FOR SALE — BX Free Standing Tower, rotor/controller and Mosley
Yagi Antenna
A) Tower-Mod.- BX 40Ft – 5-8Ft sections – with tilt mounting base plate and
wall mounting bracket.
B) Antenna – Mosley 3 element MOD. TA-33 JR (20-10-15)
C) Hi-gain CD-45-11 Rotor & Controller with 140+Ft control cable.
D) Mast – 7’6″ X 2″ .
E) Needs–New Thrust Bearing, suggest a Glen Martin Eng. model TB-25 (Has 6
lock down mast bolts) Grad 5 or higher – Nuts, Bolts, Washers for tower
assembly. Documentation included. Asking–$650.00 ( estimated new —
1800+ ) Contact — Dan Baker (N6XWF) @ (252) – 249-2922
(20160411)
(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 28, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental, Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
* Jun 25-26, ARRL Field Day. PARS activity TBD.
* Jul 30, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental, Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
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/
* Chief Editor and Administrator is Greg Wadsworth KM4DZM, 252-322-1033 or
gwadsworth1@ yahoo.com
* 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.
73,
Jim AI4WL