PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
It’s Saturday evening as I write this in my hotel room somewhere in
northern West Virginia. We have apparently dipped below the snow line
for the forecast winter storm for tomorrow so we should be OK for the
remainder of the return trip to Oriental. To help assure that, we will
be leaving at O dark 30 in the morning to put as much real estate as
possible between us and the snow. It’s been a great trip overall, with
a lot of ham radio fun. I operated 2 meter simplex mobile on 146.52
MHz. When I started I didn’t expect much but I found a lot of activity.
There really are a lot of hams who monitor that frequency and are more
than happy to have a casual QSO. I had most of my QSO’s near larger
metropolitan areas but that’s not a hard and fast rule. If you are
going to travel, give 2 meter simplex a try. You might be pleasantly
surprised. Tomorrow I’ll try the 70 cm simplex frequency and I’ll
report next week. _…_ I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
…_._ 73 de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) Nov 30, 2019 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-one PARS members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am
breakfast meeting chaired by Vice President Bruce Perkins, K4ONC at
Brantley’s Village Restaurant.
* Dick Goodwin, K4JJW reported receiving the Worked All States Award
(WAS) on 160 Meters.
* Treasurer Wally Wallace, KK4ASP, presented her monthly report. Notice
of PARS and ARRL renewals were mailed to members early in November.
* Propagation Report: Solar activity continues to be very low; no
Sunspots during the most recent 17 day stretch and none for 253 days
(76%) so far this year. We are at the bottom of Cycle 24–the bottom
year in our previous cycle had 73% of its days without. A quick survey
indicated PARS members have not abandoned their radios. During the past
month of those present:
-12 (57%) were on HF
-10 on HF SSB
-6 on digital (other than cW)
-4 on CW
-4 (20%) on Weak signal VHF
-12 (57%) on a FM Repeater
And 7 members indicated they use Over-the-Air (Antenna) TV! Local
users will need to rescan their channels on or after 10 December. ENC
FOX and PBS stations are changing their RF channels as mandated by the
FCC to provide spectrum for G5 cell service.
* Mike Marsh, K4NLC, our ARES coordinator, reported 4 training
sessions in November for 14.6 mh. On 7 Nov, Lor, W3QA, briefed the
AUXCOMM group on APRS; on 23 Nov Gary, NC3Z, conducted a course on
WinLink for AUXCOMM at the Florence-Whortonsville FD. Over 20 from
around NC attended including 6 PARS members.
Mike encourged members to look at the VARA software as inexpensive
substitute for PACTOR hardware.
The next AUXCOMM/ARES meeting will be 6 Feb 2020 at Pamlico
Community College.
* Paul, K4MMB, reported that the PARS Website has been active: 129
visitors during the month, some of those were due to a PARS add on the
Towndock.net website. Ten of those present indicated they had used the
site during Nov.
* Bill Olah updated the group on the condition of PARS member Dennis
Giorgio, KD2DSY, who sustained a severe stroke and is in the Pruitt
Nursing Home in New Bern. Dennis now has a handheld but can only reach
the New Bern repeater due to his location. Visitors are encouraged as
are phone calls (cell 862-324-5339).
* PARS will not be involved with the Cycle NC visit to Oriental in
2020. The organization has its own communications capability.
* Contact Bill Michne if you can help take down antennas at
Priscilla’s, N4TNP, on Whittaker Creek Rd.
* There appears to be interest in an overview of WinLink following a
future PARS meeting. Bruce mentioned several WinLink nets that he uses
to maintain proficency.
* Is the proposed Tech/General class still on? There is some interest.
* The group discussed increasing the $10 “limit” on gifts for the
Christmas exchange. It was agreed that $10 should remain but only as a
guide.
* VP Bruce, distributed PARS logo baseball caps to those who ordered them.
* The meeting was adjourned at 0955.
BIKE MS DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2020
Bruce Arnold, KS8L, sent us the heads-up:
“Bill, it’s been announced that the Bike MS event in 2020 will be
on September 26-27. It has always been the weekend after Labor Day, but
it’s felt that the weather will be more predictable at the later date.”
“Please put this in the PARSgram so our members who plan ahead can
put it in their calendar.”
Thanks,
Bruce KS8L (bruce.ks8l@gmail.com)
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours
ending yesterday at 4 pm local. There are no sunspot regions on the Sun
facing Earth this morning. This is our 255th morning this year without
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 71. The index is predicted to register 70
today through Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing average
is 69.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet today and quiet to unsettled Tuesday and Wednesday. The estimated
Kp-index of 0 reported at 7 a.m. local this morning indicates we are
currently experiencing very quiet conditions.
We can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating conditions on 80
and 40 meters for the next few days, fair conditions both day and night
on 30 and 20. Poor conditions will continue on the higher bands. Es (E
layer skip) was reported early last evening on 6 Meters. Most contacts
were on cW running North-South, Eastern Canada into the Carolinas.
Europe is seeing an active Winter Es season.
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**
1) Icom 7600 SOLD
2) Icom 7000 SOLD
3) LDG 100 auto tuner, perfect size and electrical match for a 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 (updated 2019-11-11)**
– 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. ** Any Reasonable
offers will be seriously considered.**
– 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. ** Any Reasonable offers will be
seriously considered.**
– 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:
* 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.
* Jan 25, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-249-6015, k4onc@aol.com.
* Feb 6, 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
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
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
——
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.
—-