|
PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
I’ve heard from some members about their interest in learning Morse Code. It’s not for everyone, but it is a popular mode for a lot of reasons that I won’t rehash here. The problem is how to learn it. There are books and software available but learning on your own in general is not successful. Enter a new CW school, longislandcwclub.org. They run an 11 week CW course online interactively. The student learns 4 characters per week, and must practice for 15-20 minutes per day. By the third or fourth week enough characters have been learned for students to have real time QSO’s online. The club has other CW related activities to help maintain interest and proficiency. If you have any interest in learning CW it’s worth your while to check out their web page. …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com/
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was low during the 24 hours ending yesterday at 5 pm local. There is one sunspot region on the sun facing earth this morning and it has been surprisingly active. It released a C2 solar flare late Saturday that degraded HF communications in the Pacific for about 13 minutes. A second and larger flare struck the ionosphere over Asia and the Indian Ocean early this morning, May 6, at 0510Z This M1 flare affected communications on frequencies below 20 MHz for about 24 minutes. There is a chance for C-class flares each day through Wednesday with activity otherwise low according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. On Sunday, the reported Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 74. The index is predicted to rise to 76 on Monday and stay at 76 through Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is 72.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be quiet to active today and Tuesday and then quiet to unsettled on Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 0 at 5 a.m. local this morning indicates quiet conditions.
We can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating conditions on 80 and 40 meters for the next few days. Fair conditions are expected on 30 and 20 meters. Poor conditions will continue on the higher bands. On 6 meters, Es propagation continues to be reported occurring mostly in the afternoon and early evening. Some of those contacts were double and triple hop. Again most were FT8 but some CW and a few SSB.
THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE
WALLIS AND FUTUNA ISLANDS, FW. Nobby, G0VJG will be QRV as FW/G0VJG from Wallis Island, IOTA OC-054, from May 6 to 20. Activity will be on 60 to 6 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via M0OXO.
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
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. Listings will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise.–Jim.
**For Sale**
– 440 REPEATER.
I have a moto. master 2 base 440 repeater, with cellwave duplexers. new controller card, can be programed via ht. also has a new 85.00 preamp for receive. 100 watt pa with extra pa and heat sink assembly. all you need is coax, antenna, and power supply. works well can be demonstrated here in my shack. if you need or want one for your area, please don’t hesitate to make an offer, very very reasonable. is in excess to my needs — we put one up 5 miles away at 700 ft so don’t need one here. don’t be afraid of [making] a small offer. Contact Donie Smith, KJ4RB at kj4rb@embarqmail.com. (20190409)
**For Sale**
– CUSHCRAFT 17B2 2 METER SSB ANTENNA
Original cushcraft , not mfj version, in the box sealed for $150.00 they list for mid $300’s now. It is 31 ft long when assembled. Contact Donie Smith, KJ4RB at kj4rb@embarqmail.com. (20190409)
**For Sale**
– Pristine ICOM R-71A Receiver – Full set of filters – SSB FL-44A (2.4 kHz), SSB FL-30 (2.3 kHz), SSB wide FL-70 (2.8 kHz), CW FL-32 (500 Hz). See, https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.radio.info/SA4AWmUI8js for filter descriptions. Includes EX-310 voice synthesizer. Realigned in 2008 and memory/battery module installed, then unit double-boxed and placed in storage. Unit powers up and works 100% (tested 4-8-2019). In “like-new” condition. Original finish pristine. Original box, manuals, power cord included. I took exceptional care of this receiver. Asking $375. Contact Eric Halber, KM4RDE, at 919-491-8641 or ephalber@gmail.com. (20190409)
** For Sale**
– MFJ-259B HF/VHF SWR ANALYZER. Unit has some slight cosmetic paint scratches but is completely functional. Covers 1.8 to 170 MHz. $160.00.
– MFJ-949E VERSA TUNER II. Like new condition. Features cross needle SWR/POWER meter that reads peak or average power, has two coax outputs, and built-in dummy load. Maximum 300 watts. Includes manual. $100.00. Contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com. (20190401)
PARS CALENDAR:
* May 25, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. Our special guest will be Bill Morine, N2COP, Vice Director of the ARRL Roanoke Division. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Jun 6, Emergency Communications Training for ARES, Thursday, 7-9 pm, Brinson Building Room 412, Pamlico Comunity College, Mike Marsh, K4NLC, 252-636-1257 or mike@marshconsulting.org
* Jun 21, Field Day setup, Friday, time TBD, Pamlico County Shrine Club, NC306, Grantsboro, Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Mondays, Pete’s “Pamlico Swamp Roundtable” (“Swamp Net” for some), around 8 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 10 Meter Band voice segment open to technician licensees and above. Radio related topics/questions/issues welcomed.
* Tuesdays, Newport Weather Service SKYWARN Practice Net, 9:00 pm local, Oriental (147.210+ (PL151.4)) and all other local repeaters. Open net for severe weather warning and reporting continously monitored upon activation.
* Wednesdays, Pamlico Emergency Net Practice and Rag Chew/ARES, 7:30 pm, Oriental Repeater, 147.210 + (PL151.4).
* Thursdays, “DownEast/Pamlico Six Meter Net”, 8 pm local, 50.200 MHz, USB. A non-directed open net to promote operation on the ‘Magic Band’.
(For more nets see www.arrl.org/arrl-net-directory-search )
PARS WEB SITE: https://www.n4prs.org/
Web Master is Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, 561-308-3456, PARSwebman@gmail.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
|
|