PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
I tried working the ARRL 10 meter contest this weekend, CW on Saturday
and SSB on Sunday. On Saturday I heard two stations, one each in Chile
and Argentina, neither very strong or long lived. I managed to work
the one in Argentina. On Sunday I heard one station on SSB, calling CQ
with no takers. I called him several times but he didn’t come back to
me. So I went back to CW and managed to work one station in Texas. For
the rest of the time I spent in the shack those two days I had my pan
display set for 28.0 – 28.5, and didn’t see any signals. At this point
in time my antenna for 10 meters is a 40 meter OCF dipole at about 25
feet, probably not the greatest setup. Anyway I will be submitting my
log to show my support for the contest. Maybe I’ll get a participation
award. …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
IT MAY BE QUIET on 10 but SAM.DAVE, KD2T, reports doing well on the low
bands. He just received his sticker for WAS-FT8 on 160 Meters. Congrats
Dave!
GET A PARS LOGO CAP
From VP Bruce Perkins, K4ONC:
I have received a second order of baseball hats in various colors with
the PARS logo embroidered on the front. Since this was a duplicate order
sent by mistake, the hats will be sold, first come first served, for the
sale price of $10 each. I have the following colors in stock:
1 – Royal Blue
2- Red
10 – Khaki
1 – Black
1 – White
1 – Royal Blue knit (stocking) cap
If someone wants to email me their choice, I will hold it for them.
Otherwise, I will bring them to the club meeting on December 28th to
sell. Once these are gone, unknown when I will order again.
73, Bruce, K4ONC@aol.com, 252-249-6015
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. Well folks, this is our 270th morning this
year without sunspots. We have now exceeded the number of spotless days
in 2008 by two and the 2019 number keeps rising.
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 72. The index is predicted to register 71 today
through Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing average
remains 69. Now, if you have been watching closely, yes the spotless
days continue but the SFI may have bottomed out. The index has actually
clicked up, albeit slowly. It was 67 ten weeks ago. Interesting.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet today and Tuesday, quiet to active Wednesday. Solar winds are
expected to arrive on Wednesday to disturb the field. The estimated
Kp-index of 0 reported at 4 a.m. local this morning indicates we are
currently experiencing very quiet conditions.
Like last Monday, even with our spotless Sun, we can expect good 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.
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 DX CHALLENGE
BHUTAN, A5. Zorro, JH1AJT, Franz, DJ9ZB, Adrian, KO8SCA, Max, ON5UR
and Champ, E21EIC are QRV as A50BOC, A50BPC, and A5B until December
20. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and FT8 and
FT4. QSL via JH1AJT.
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** by Fred Elsner, W4fae, 252-637-3742 (20191028)
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.
**For Sale ** by Jim Cason, AC4JC, 252-636-0407 or jlcason@yahoo.com
(20190930 updated 2019-12-09)
– 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 SOLD
– 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.
– DX Engineering DXE-BAL050-H05-A 2KW Continuous, 5KW Intermittent 1:1
Coaxial Balun. This sells for $139.99 new, will sell for half that
price, $70. Has never had more than about 600 watts put through it.
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 Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.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
Check out Paul’s “Editor’s Page” and particularly his 5 Dec 2019 entry.
His experience during Oriental’s recent power outage again proves how
lucky (better yet, smart) we are to have taken up Amateur Radio…
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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