PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Amateur radio has a long history of making significant contributions to science, and we are all familiar with at least some of them. While many hams are scientists or engineers, most are not, so getting involved doesn’t happen very often. But there have been science projects that have enlisted the assistance of hundreds or even thousands of amateur scientists to collect data to support the project (SETI comes to mind). So here is one to consider. Methods for forecasting earthquakes have not been even remotely successful, but if it could be done thousands of lives could be saved. Enter amateur radio. Huh? What does amateur radio have to do with earthquakes? Well, back in 2000 WF0H wrote an article for eham.net entitled “Ham Radio Earthquake Detection.” In it he told of his father, a ham, who spent most evenings listening on his Collins receiver. He had noticed that on some occasions the quality of the received signals was noticeably different than usual, with a kind of ringing sound. He kept logs of dates, times, and the nature of the signals, and noticed that more often than not, an earthquake was reported somewhere some hours after the ringing signals were heard. Fast forward to today. There is a growing body of evidence that prior to an earthquake there are changes to the earth’s magnetic field that can affect the ionosphere to distort HF signals. If you are interested learning more about this phenomenon and find out who is doing what, check out the following link: http://www.arrl.org/news/report-california-earthquakes-disrupted-hf-propagation-on-west-coast. …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours ending yesterday at 5 pm local. There are no sunspot regions on the sun facing earth this morning. The “precursor” sunspot belonging to Cycle 25 that appeared last week was, like the others before it, short lived. Activity will continue to be very low according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. On Sunday, the reported Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 67. The index is predicted to be 67 today through Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is 69.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be quiet to active today and tomorrow and then quiet to unsettled on Wednesday. Solar wind will generate the activity. The estimated Kp-index of 1 at 5 a.m. local this morning indicates we are currently experiencing quiet conditions.
We can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating conditions on 80 and 40 meters for the next few days. Poor conditions will continue on the higher bands. The six meter band was open at least part of each day during the past week. If you timed it right, you would have found short windows, mostly in the late afternoons, into Europe and East Africa. Those conditions should continue.
For an explanation of numbers used in our PARSgram, see the excellent article written by Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA at http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere.
THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE
So, where were you when Neil Armstrong first stepped off that ladder onto the Moon?
(Extracted from the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1422, Tedd Mirgliotta ed.)
NB6, UNITED STATES (Special Event). Members of the USS Hornet Amateur Radio Club [HARC], NB6GC, will be on the air this month celebrating the 50th anniversary of the recovery of the Apollo 11 Astronauts by the USS Hornet on July 24, 1969. They will be providing a special QSL card to all stations that work them during the month of July. They will be specifically on the air during July 20th and 21st, when the USS Hornet museum is celebrating, and they will also be on the air on July 24th the actual date of the recovery as well. Listen for them, work them and help them commemorate this historic event! You can get more information about their club and its events either on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NB6GC), or on their Web site at: http://www.hornet-arc.us
Numerous NASA amateur radio clubs will be on the air during the period of July 16-25. Check your spotting cluster or @NASARadioClubs on Twitter.
QSO CORNER
This is the place to post contacts with DXpeditions, Special Event Stations, or special QSO’s you would like to share.
And from Sam/Dave, KD2T, on the 13 Conlonies Special Event: “I’m happy to report I got all except one bonus point in each mode. Got them on CW and FT8.”
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**
– Ameritron ALS-606 600W Solid State Linear Amplifier with Power Supply. New, 2 months ago, I have 2 of them and only need one! Priced at $1,600. It can be seen and tried at my QTH in Comfort (Jones County), NC. Will deliver as far as New Bern. For more info contact Terry Brown, KE4ULF at terbrw@yahoo.com (20190520)
**For Sale**
– Kenwood TS-870SAT Transceiver. Works and looks as new. Has hand mic and power cable, no box. $650.
– Ameritron ATR-20 Antenna Tuner. Has new roller inductor, works perfectly. Condx is 9 out of 10! Asking $175.
Contact Don Smith, KJ4RB at kj4rb@embarqmail.com or 252-568-4011 (If no answer please leave message). (20190520)
**For Sale**
– CUSHCRAFT 17B2 2 METER SSB ANTENNA SOLD
PARS CALENDAR:
* Jul 27, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Aug 1, 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
* Aug 31, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact 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.
73, Jim AI4WL
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This email is sent to members and friends of the Pamlico Amateur Radio Society. We are pleased that you asked to receive our weekly newsletter and hope that you enjoy reading it. If you no longer wish to receive the PARSgram please let us know by reply email or by email to jth350@embarqmail.com. Thanks.