PARS NAQP TEAM CONTEST: A LOOK AHEAD
Bill Michne writes:
Doubles Teams: Here’s a hint of what to expect in 2 weeks in the SSB North American QSO Party. On Saturday I spent a couple of hours operating in the CW version of this contest. It wasn’t an all out effort by any means. I just wanted to see what the casual operator could do with 100 watts and no sunspots. I started at 3:00 in the afternoon, and in just under 2 hours I had logged 51 QSO’s, 25 each on 20 and 40 meters, and 1 on 80 meters. I had 16 multipliers on 20 (14 states, 1 province, and 1 DX), 18 multipliers on 40 (17 states and 1 province), and one state on 80. Eliminating the overlaps I had a total of 24 unique states. The distributions of QSO’s was about what you would expect for the bands and propagation conditions. Most of the QSO’s on 20 were west of the Mississippi, and most of the QSO’s on 40 were east of it. If you are going for a high score, go for the multipliers. The more QSO’s you have the more valuable the multipliers become. To give you an idea of how it works, my first QSO was worth 1 point (1 Q point times 1 mult). My ninth QSO added 17 points, and my 51st QSO added 85 points! But you don’t have to worry about that. Just get me your paper log, and I’ll put it in the computer and score it for you. Alternatively, you can use one of the available computer based logging programs. I use N3FJP software for all my logging. You can download a free version which will allow you to enter 30 QSO’s. The full version costs $8.99, but no online payments are accepted except by PayPal so if you purchase by mail you will have to mail in a check to get your unlock code. If you are thinking about this product you’ll have to make a decision soon. If you just limit yourself to 30 QSO’s, use the free version, and have fun, we will have met our goal of getting members on the air. More to come next week! Meanwhile, let me know if you have any questions. Bill Michne, WM3X, 249-1175, or billmichne@embarqmail.com.
NOAA reported solar activity has been moderate during the 24 hours ending yesterday at 5 pm local. The most recent significant activity was a M1 flare at 1444Z yesterday. After weeks of quiet, there are now 4 sunspot regions on the disk facing Earth. The sunspot number (SSN) is 63 this morning, a big jump from the SSN of 12 last Monday. The Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 93, well up from the 72 recorded at Penticton Sunday a week ago. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, solar activity is expected to be low for the next three days with a chance (20 %) for an M-class flare each day. The NOAA forecast has the SFI rising to 100 for today, 105 tomorrow and back to 100 on Wednesday. The 90 day trailing average is down one to 86.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field has reached active levels over the weekend. The field is forecast to vary between quiet to minor storm (G1) levels today due to high-speed solar winds, be unsettled Tuesday and then be quiet to active Wednesday. The Kp-index was reported to be a quiet 2 at 5 a.m. local this morning.
Expect good conditions on 30 and 20 Meters, fair to poor on the higher bands. Fair day and good nighttime conditions are expected on 80 and 40.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
MARKET REEF, OJ0. Operators Dietmar, DL3DXX, Rene, DL2JRM and Robin, DO2XX will be QRV as OJ0DX from August 11 to 16. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. This includes being an entry in the upcoming Worked All Europe DX CW contest. QSL via DL3DXX.
QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Nothing!
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 :
* 13/0000-14/2359ZAug 3.5-28 MHz WAE DX Contest, CW
* 13/1600-14/2359ZAug 1.8-144 Maryland-DC QSO Party CW Ph Dig
* 13/2300-14/ 0300ZAug 50 50 MHz Fall Sprint CW Ph
See www.svhfs.org for info
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 are a great way to get those last states on your Worked All States (WAS) Award list.)
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
——————————————————————–
* FOR SALE–Hy-Gain AV-680 Patriot-Plus HF Vertical Antenna, covers
6,10,12,15,17,20,30,40 and 80 meters. Requires no ground radials, comes
with it’s own counterpoise. About 2 years old, this was my temporary
antenna during my move, I now am putting up more dedicated antennas.
I built a simple mounting system that allows me to raise and lower by
myself if ever needed. It will remain operational here if you are
interested in seeing it’s performance.
I am open to offers, trades, etc.
Gary Mitchelson, NC3Z/4, 252-745-0655 or n3cz@arrl.net (20160620)
* 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. (20160509)
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 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.
(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:
* Aug 20-21, PARS Club Contest–North America QSO Party, Saturday, 2 pm- Sunday, 2am, Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com.
* Aug 27, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental, Bill Olah, KR4LO, 249-0287 or w_olah@yahoo.com.
* Sep 24, 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