MORE ON ARRL PHONE SWEEPSTAKES THIS WEEKEND
From Bill Michne, WM3X:
As I mentioned in last weeks PARSgram, this coming weekend is the phone version of this annual event. As a contest, it’s a bit different from the usual “59, location” exchange. In fact, no signal report is given. Instead, a sequence of information is exchanged that more closely mimics real net traffic. The sequence consists of a consecutive serial number, precedence, your call sign, the last two digits of the year you were first licensed, and your ARRL section. So if I called CQ and KD2T answered me, I would say “KD2T, 001, alpha, WM3X, 56, North Carolina.” KD2T would then send me his information to complete the contact. The plan here is to submit a PARS club entry. Even a few contacts will count. If you would like to submit your log for club credit, though, you need to let me know no later than this Thursday so I can submit a club roster before the event. If you are new to contesting, or this contest, I would be happy to have a short meeting with you to bring you up to speed on the details. You can learn all you need to know in just a few minutes. Contact me at 249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com. [For full details, operating guide and rules go to www.arrl.org/sweepstakes.-ed.]
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was very low during the 24 hours ending yesterday at 5 pm local. The most recent significant activity was a B1 flare at 0028Z this morning. There are 3 sunspot regions on the disk facing Earth this morning. Flare activity remains very low. The sunspot number (SSN) is 38, up from the 23 we reported last Monday. The Solar Flux Index (SFI) is 78, up a couple from the 76 recorded at Penticton Sunday a week ago. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, solar activity is expected to be very low for the next three days with a slight chance for C-class flares today through Wednesday. The NOAA forecast has the SFI dropping to 75 today through Wednesday. The 90 day trailing average is 85.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field reached minor storm levels yesterday. The Earth is again passing through a stream of solar wind. The field is forecast to be quiet to active today, quiet to unsettled Tuesday and quiet on Wednesday. The Kp-index was reported to be a quiet 3 at 7 a.m. local this morning.
Expect fair conditions on 30 and 20 Meters, poor on the higher bands. Poor day and fair nighttime conditions are expected on 80 and 40. Activity on 6 Meters reported on DXmaps has been via meteor scatter, E layer skip, or tropo. The band was active Sunday morning, particularly on 50.145MHz. Es was reported this morning.
THIS WEEK’S DX CHALLENGE
XZ, MYANMAR. The following press release was sent out by Jay/JA1TRC and the FGC Radio Team on November 8th [edited]: Zorro, JH1AJT, will be active from Myanmar (XZ) with Champ/E21EIC, Franz/DJ9ZB and Madison/W5MJ, between November 15-22nd, 2016. His main purpose of this trip is to support Olympic and Paralympic Committee in Myanmar. Activity will be on 80-10m bands CW, SSB and RTTY, by two stations, using a tri-band beam for 20/15/10m and another beam for 30/17/12m bands. Wire verticals will be used for other bands. Callsign will be announced as soon as we know. QSL to JH1AJT; PO Box 8, Oiso, Naka-gun, KANAGAWA 259-0111, Japan. OQRS will be available at ClubLog after his return to Japan. [XZ would be quite the catch from here-ed.]
QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
Nothing. Where is everyone?.
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
* 19/2100-21/0300Z Nov 1.8-28 MHz ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB
(see www.arrl.org/sweepstakes 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 for your Worked All States (WAS) Award.)
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
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* FOR SALE: $50.00 160m coaxial receiving loop. Sold.
* 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 13.5″ W x 8.5 H x 14″ D. 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 $500. Contact Bill Cresswell, K2ONN at 252-249-0148. (20161024)
* DONATED EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Here are two pieces of equipment in excellent condition, fully tested, and completely functional. First is an MFJ Versa Tuner II, model 949B. This antenna tuner is rated at 300 watts maximum, has two coax outputs that are switchable and can be bypassed, and an internal dummy load. It also has balanced line or single wire output. The meter (single needle) reads forward and reflected power in two ranges, 0-30 and 0-300 watts, and SWR. Second is an MFJ Artificial Ground, Model 931. This unit is used for stations that can’t get a good RF ground, such as when the station is not on a ground floor, or when working portable at a camp ground or park. It is rated at 300 watts maximum. User manuals for both units are available for download in pdf format. Prices: tuner, $60.00, artificial ground, $50.00. These are less than half the cost of comparable new units from DX Engineering. Special deal: buy both units for $100 (they are often used together). All proceeds go to PARS. Contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com. (20160926)
* FOR SALE
SGC antenna tuner. This is the SG 235 with Smart Lock. This tuner is attached at the foot of the antenna. It is rated for 500 Watts. It can be used on Marine, Auto and land applications. Totally weather sealed. New from HRO this unit and Smart Lock are just under $1200 from HRO. Get the best for $400.
Also for sale is a MFJ 993B. This is the automatic tuner. New from HRO it is $235. Sale price is $100.
Both are up and running at my ham shack and can be seen in operation–Charlie Overcash, WA4GSI, 252-249-1257 (20160912)
* FOR SALE, PRICE REDUCED–Yaesu FT- DX3000
A perfect “10”. Only used lightly by a little old lady on Sunday. I am upgrading and would love to see you have this rig. I hate to part with it but I just purchased a FTDX5000. This is just not the basic rig that others are selling—here is what you get, Like new radio, optional 300 hz cw filter, optional DVS 6 Voice unit, FH-2 touch pad, Hand mic, SP-2000 external speaker w/filters, Nifty Mini-Manual, box and radio manual. I have well over $2200.00 invested. I’ll let it go for $1995.00 $1795, you pay shipping for 2 boxes. Local pickup possible in NC. CONUS only. NO TRADES. PayPal, cash, check (units shipped when check clears). Pictures on request. DON’T MISS THIS ONE!
Sam, KD2T, davebacon137@embarqmail.com or call 252-617-0359 (20160822)
(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:
* Nov 19, PARS Planning Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental, Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com.
* Nov 19-20, ARRL Sweepstakes Contest–PARS Club Activity, Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com.
* Nov 26, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental, Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com.
252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.com.
* Dec 31, PARS Monthly Meeting, Saturday, 9 am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental, Bill Michne, WM3X. 252-249-1175 or billmichne@embarqmail.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).
* Thursdays, Pamlico Six Meter Net, 8 pm local, 50.200 MHz, USB. A non-directed open net to promote operation on the ‘Magic Band’.
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