PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Congratulations to Karen McCraw of Pittsboro, NC. Karen was our only
examinee for the VE session on Saturday. She passed both the Tech and
General tests! She will be operating primarily marine mobile as she and
her husband cruise the Bahamas this winter. _…_ October is the
beginning of increased contest activity that will continue through
March, although contesting takes place during the rest of the year at a
slower pace. I know some operators dislike contesting for a variety of
reasons, but I think they are tremendously valuable. They are an
opportunity to enhance your operating skills as well as the
effectiveness of your station. Your scores are the measuring sticks of
your performance. If you are a beginning contester don’t think in terms
of winning with your 100 watts and end fed wire at 20 feet. Start off in
easy contests like sprints that only last a couple of hours and have
easy exchanges, like signal report and your state. Just get in there and
try to make as many contacts as you can. When the contest is over study
your log for clues about your station. For example, are most of your
contacts in one direction, or within a few hundred miles? That kind of
information can lead you ways to improve your station. What about your
QSO rate? A low rate could mean a lot of things, like you’re not
calling CQ, your receiver selectivity or sensitivity are poor, you’re
using your vertical for receive on 160, etc. After a few contests you’ll
be amazed at how much more fun you can have with ham radio. …_._ de
WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
MAYSVILLE HAMFEST SUNDAY OCT 13
The annual Maysville Hamfest will be this coming Sunday morning from
0800 to 1300 or so at the Maysville Rotary Park, 708 8th Street in
greater Maysville. Free tailgating, free entry. You can do it all next
weekend: visit the New Bern MumFest Friday afternoon and make your XYL
happy, dump your hazardous waste early Saturday behind the Pamlico Court
house and then hit the Oriental Classic Car Show down by Lou Mac Park
for a couple of hours, and then, on Sunday morning, drive down to the
Maysville Hamfest and look for some good stuff, cheap. Wow, what a great
weekend!
ASHEVILLE RADIO MUSEUM, A FUN PLACE TO VISIT
On your next trip west out I-40, plan to explore the Asheville Radio
Museum. The Fall hours are limited. It’s open only Fridays and Saturdays
from 1 to 3 pm, but worth adding to your schedule. The folks there have
packed a lot into a small space. The museum covers radio discovery and
history, has over 50 ham transmitters and receivers and almost as many
vintage home radios, and much more. Learn about the museum at
https://www.avlradiomuseum.org/ Then, from the home page, click to see
what’s new.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours
ending yesterday at 5 pm local. After a weak one appeared two days ago
there are no sunspot regions on the Sun facing earth this morning.
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 register 68 today through
Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is back up to 68.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. It is
expected to be quiet today, quiet to unsettled Tuesday, and then quiet
again Wednesday. 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. No change there.
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.
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**
– TenTech 411 Amplifier, uses three 811A tubes, similar in size to the
Collins “S” line amplifier. An almost new set of Chinese made 811’s
included. The amp is running vintage US Made 811A’s (higher power
output), and I have a number of additional vintage 811’s included. up to
100 watt drive, up to 600 watt RF output into 50 ohm load. Capable of
full QSK along with a Jupiter or other TenTec transceivers on CW;
possibly with other rigs. Can be operated on 110 volt, I have it wired
for 220 volt (don’t have 220 available in the house, or I might keep
it). Built before 10 meter capability was removed from amps, although I
really used it mostly on 75 and 40. Best pricing information I could
find on these is selling for an average of $650, I’ll sell with the
spare tubes for $525.
– TenTec 229B Tuner, capable of a full 2KW PEP, built as an L-network,
where additional capacitor has been added to cover 160 meters even. Has
a 4-position RF switch. Best pricing information I could find on these
is selling for an average of $250, I’ll sell for $210.
– Full 2KW Rotary Coaxial Switch (from the 1970’s), 5 positions plus one
grounding position, $35.
– B&W 50 ohm Dummy Load/Wattmeter, capable of full power BRIEFLY. Has
10/100/1KW meter. Overheating lamp is small 110 volt bulb and is burnt
out. Working but not sure of accuracy. $50.
– 2KW PEP 1:1 Coaxial to open wire balun (I’ll have to get this down
from the shop attic) available also.
Jim Cason, AC4JC, 252-636-0407 or jlcason@aol.com (20190930)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Oct 26, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s
Village Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Nov 30, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental 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:
* Tuesdays, Newport Weather Service SKYWARN Practice Net, 9:00 pm
local, Oriental (147.210+ (PL151.4)) and all other local repeaters. This
net for severe weather warning and reporting is 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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