PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
PARS members held their annual election of officers at the meeting on
Saturday. All of the current officers agreed to stand for reelection,
and there being no other candidates or nominations from the floor the
current officers were reelected on a motion to cast a single vote. _…_
Have you built anything for ham radio lately? Or tried a new antenna?
Or a new mode? Got a new rig? Why not take a few pictures or write a
brief article for the website? Our website has improved tremendously,
thanks to Paul, K4MMB. _…_ With the non-existent sun spots and the
associated gloom and doom predictions of poor propagation, I didn’t
expect much for the CQ WW SSB DX contest over the weekend. Good news! I
heard a lot of activity on 20 and 15 meters Sunday afternoon, mostly
Europe, the Caribbean, and Central America. Our knowledge of the
ionosphere and its effects on propagation are far from perfect, allowing
for occasional brief openings. If you have a transceiver with a
bandscope, leave it on a “dead” band sometime. You may get a nice
surprise. …_._ de WM3X, Bill Mchne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) Oct 27, 2019 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-five PARS members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am
breakfast meeting chaired by President Bill Michne, WM3X, at Brantley’s
Village Restaurant.
* Charlie, WA4GSI, had an uplifting contact with a young operator at
K6DGE, the station of the Dorothy Grant Elementary School Radio Amateur
Club. There’s hope, Charlie says. And Dick, K4JJW, reported a recent
contact with Brian Otter, 9J2BO in Zambia. This was a truly remarkable
contact: it was on the 47th anniversary of their first QSO!
* Treasurer Wally Wallace, KK4ASP, presented her monthly report. We’re
solvent.
* Propagation Report: Solar activity continues to be very low; no
Sunspots during the most recent 23 day stretch and none for 222 days
(74%) so far this year. This surpasses the 221 days with none in all of
2018 and considering the bottom year in our previous cycle had 73% of
its days without. The question now is how low will this cycle go. All
said, DX is still to be had on HF especially when using digital modes.
* Mike Marsh, K4NLC, our ARES coordinator, reported 4 training sessions
in October for 9 mh. On 3 Oct, 5 members rang out two State AUXCOMM
WinLink kits. Log on to NCterms to sign up for the 23 Nov WinLink
operation class using the WinLink kits at the Florence-Whortonsville FD.
* Lor, W3QA, updated the group on the challenge to WinLink and other
digital services by the NYU Wireless group and Prof. Rappaport. They
have petitioned the FCC to ban all forms of digital communications that
cannot be readily decoded (read) off the air. This promises to reel
back the state of the art, end compression, and most forms of digital
communication, many of which are used to support EMComm. A group in
opposition is to meet with the FCC. Gerald, KN4CKL, and others from the
floor, questioned the motives of the NYU group and its sponsors.
* President Bill reported that all current officers were willing to
stand for re-election and asked for nominations from the floor. There
being none, Dick K4JJW, moved that the slate of current officers be
nominated as a group. The motion was seconded and the slate was elected
by acclimation.
* There appears to be enough interest for a tech/general preparation
course. Now likely, it will be after the New Year and at the PCC Bayboro
Annex if arrangements can be made.
* Bill advised that the Newport Repeater is IRLP capable and users are
welcome. IRLP operation is now simplified. More to come on this capability.
* According to Bill Olah, KR4LO, there also appears to be sufficient
interest in a Fox Hunt. Planning will begin.
* Bill Olah advised that PARS member Dennis Giorgio, KD2DSY, sustained
a severe stroke recently and is in the Pruitt Nursing Home in New Bern.
Visitors are encouraged as are phone calls (cell 862-324-5339). Members
plan to help Dennis toward gaining his General license.
* VP Bruce, found enough interest in a PARS logo baseball cap to
proceed with an initial order.
* The meeting was adjourned at 0951.
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. Today is our 224th day without sunspots so
far this year. On Saturday we exceeded the number of days (221) in all
of last year that had no sunspots.
Solar 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 69. The index is predicted to register 70 today
through Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is 67.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. It is
expected to be quiet to active today, Tuesday and Wednesday. Solar winds
are the cause. The estimated Kp-index of 3 at 5 a.m. local this morning
indicates we are currently experiencing quiet conditions.
We can expect poor daytime and fair nighttime operating conditions on 80
and 40 meters for the next few days. Poor conditions will continue on
the higher bands. Even with the gloomy predictions, this past weekend of
the CQ WW SSB Contest offered lots of DX and lots of activity even on
the 15 and 10 meter bands. DXCC could have been had in just this one
weekend!
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.
**NEW For Sale**
1) Icom 7600 hf/ 50mhz; latest firmware/software (water fall display
etc), mint condition, original owner, lived an easy life in an air
conditioned, smoke free shack, no contests, just used to listen to old
ladies on Sunday mornings. S/N 0203618. No problems ever. Have the
original invoice for $3349. asking $1250. Fred, W4fae, 252-637-3742
2) Icom 7000, hf/vhf/uhf; 100 watt, split unit; main unit with separate
control head, all cables, manuals, hand mike, original owner, only
used six months of the year. $500. Fred,
W4fae, 252-637-3742
3) LDG 100 auto tuner, perfect size and electrical match for the Icom
7000. $80. Fred, W4fae, 252-637-3742
4) West Mountain Rig Blaster Advantage (for digital mode operating}.
With all cables etc. $100. Fred W4fae, 252-637-3742 (20191028)
**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@yahoo.com (20190930)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Nov 7, Emergency Communications for ARES/AUXCOMM, Thursday, 7-9 pm,
Brinson Building Room 411, Pamlico Community College, Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@marshconsulting.org
* Nov 30, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Dec 28, PARS MONTHLY MEETING and Annual Christmas Gift Exchange,
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/
Our web Master is Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, 561-308-3456, PARSwebman@gmail.com
YOUR PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY OFFICERS
– President–Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175. drmichne73@gmail.com
– Vice President–Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-249-6015, k4onc@aol.com
– Treasurer–Gail (Wally) Wallace, KK4ASP, 410-804-1750,
wallyandwill@gmail.com
– Secretary/Newsletter Editor–Jim Hartmeyer, AI4WL, 252-249-1984,
jth350@embarqmail.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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