NO PARSGRAM NEXT WEEK
Our next weekly newsletter will be in your in-box on Monday, February
24. –Jim
PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Our Technician license course is underway at PCC. There are only two
students in the class but they are enthusiastic about learning. One of
them bought the License Manual and started taking on-line practice exams
before the course started! There is a possibility of running another
course at a different location on a different night, but at the moment
we still have to work out some of the logistical details. We could be
up and running in a week or two. _…_ Bill, KR4LO, is reactivating
the club fox hunting equipment. It’s a fun activity, and it occurs to
me that if there is enough interest, maybe we could do a couple of
interclub competitions. _…_ The ARRL Board is reviewing the band
plan with an eye toward expanding the digital mode real estate. Given
the steadily growing interest in these modes this makes good sense, but
something would have to give, and no one is saying what that would be.
The Board is inviting comments… …_._ 73 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 4 pm local. There are no sunspot regions on the Sun
facing Earth this morning. Solar activity will continue to be very low
through Wednesday 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 71 today through Wednesday. The more
important SFI 90 day trailing average is also 71.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. It is
expected to be quiet today, quiet to active on Tuesday and quiet to
unsettled on Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 2 reported at 7 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. Fair conditions both day and night
are expected 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
TANZANIA, 5H. Members of the Low Bands Contest Club are QRV as
5H4WZ from Pemba Island, IOTA AF-063, until February 18. Activity
is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL via OM3PA.
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**
Yaesu FT-450D HF to 6 meter transceiver. Like new condition. $450. Bill
Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com. (20200210)
**FOR SALE**by Sam/Dave Bacon, KD2T, davebacon137@embarqmail.com or
252-617-0359 (20200120)
* MFJ-928 Automatic antenna turner will handle 200w CW or SSB. Handles
up to 2 antennas. Tunes with 2 watts. Tunes in15 seconds. Audio SWR
meter. 20,000 memories. 4 memory banks. New $199.95 available for $145.00
* Ameritron 811 HF amplifier. Conveniently plug it into your nearest
120 VAC outlet — no special wiring needed. Three tough 811A
transmitting tubes, extra heavy duty power supply, all HF band coverage,
pressurized ventilation, tuned input, adjustable ALC & more. The AL-811
covers all HF bands. You can operate the AL-811 on all modes. Depending
on band gets approximately 600 watts output PEP SSB and 500 watts output
CW. You even get 400 watts on demanding continuous modes like RTTY,
SSTV, FM and AM. 2 extra 811 tubes comes with the amp. No box. Non
smoking house. Manual included. New from Ameritron $1099.95 Asking $600.00
* Yaesu SP 2000 Speaker with dust cover. External speaker with filters.
Yaesu grey color. Has dust cover. New at Gigi Parts $184.00 available at
$135.00.
* MFJ-1260 Mic/Rig Switch. Allows you to use 2 mics with 1 rig. MFJ
price is $119.95 Yours for $75.00
* MFJ-471RC Remote Control Antenna Switch. Remote control up to 2
antenna from your shack. Control voltage travel on the feed coax. No
need for a control wire. MFJ price $89.95 Your for $50.00
* MFJ1701 6 Position Manual Antenna Switch. Manually switch between up
to 6 different antennas. Has a scratch on the face. MFJ price $99.95
yours for $50.00
PARS CALENDAR:
* Technician Class Radio Operator Course, Mondays through March 30,
6:30 pm, Pamlico Community College, Brinson Building Room 411. For more
info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Feb 29, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Mar 28, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Apr 4, FCC License Examination/VE Session, Saturday 9am, Oriental
Town Hall, Oriental. 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
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
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—-