PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
On Saturday we held what I believe was the first on the air PARS monthly
meeting. We had 19 check-in’s, all members. While I haven’t heard any
comments one way or another, it seemed to me to proceed smoothly enough.
We won’t know for awhile if we need to do it again next month, or the
month after, or… And of course, we have no idea what impact the
situation will have on Field Day, which we normally start talking about
at the April meeting. Like so many other organizations, ARRL is closed
to the public, and staff is working from home. I will be closely
watching the news coming out of the ARRL and will be sure to share
developments that may impact club or our members. Meanwhile, stay safe,
stay healthy, stay home, and maybe try some new aspect of ham radio.
…_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) March 28, 2020 VIRTUAL MEETING NOTES
* Nineteen PARS members checked-in to the 9 am breakfast meeting net
chaired by President Bill Michne using the club call, N4PRS, on the
Oriental Repeater. Bill advised that the net will meet on the last
Saturday of the month during periods of restricted activity or mobility
such as that caused by the corona virus pandemic.
* There being no reports of awards or upgrades, Bill reported first try
success while testing his homebrew vertical. With only 4 radials
planted, he had to give it a try and worked 5B4MAA in Cyprus on 40
meters CW. [Reportedly, he’s resting on his success while putting down
the other 36 or so radials–Jim]
* Bill presented the treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally. Our balance
is little changed from last month. Bill advised he will order the new
projector to replace the old one when it seems prudent. The projector is
coming from NYC, hotspot of the virus.
* Propagation Report: Solar activity continues to be very low. The Sun
has been blank, no sunspots, for an 18 day stretch; 77 percent of our
days so far this year have been without. We can expect a mix of old and
new cycle sunspots in the months ahead but we are unlikely to see much
improvement until year’s end according to the experts. The geomagnetic
field has been mostly quiet. Expect slowly improving conditions,
especially on the 80 to 20 meter bands.
* On the contest side, Jim, AI4WL, offered the 4 hour long North
American SSB Sprint Contest on Saturday night, April 4th, 8 pm to
midnight. Only on the 20, 40, and 80 Meter Bands, it is rather unique
with “running” not permitted. Check it all out at http://ssbsprint.com
* Mike Marsh, K4NLC, our ARES coordinator, reported 4 net training
sessions in March for 15.9 mh, and the March ARES/AUXCOMM meeting for 7
mh. Cross-band operations were covered by Bill Olah, KR4LO. Due to
COVID-19 there will be no ARES/AUXCOMM meetings in April or May.
* Bill reported that the two Technician courses are continuing, the
Monday night class at PCC is being finished via self study and
telephone/email assist, the second continues on Friday nights at the
Florence-Whortonsville Fire Department. Students will take their exam at
the restricted VE session on April 4th at the FHVFD.
* Paul, K4MMB, reported the club web site (www.n4prs.org) has had 382
visitors this year with 921 pages visited. This month the site had 192
visitors, 43 in the past week.
* There being no further business the meeting was adjourned/net closed
at 0921.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours
ending yesterday at 5 pm local. There are no numbered sunspot regions on
the Sun facing Earth this morning, however one is reportedly emerging
and it appears it is from Cycle 25. 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
68, down two from last Sunday. The index is predicted to register 68
today through Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing average
is still 71.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. It is
expected to be quiet to active today and Tuesday then quiet to unsettled
on Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 2 reported 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. Expect poor conditions 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.
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. Titan DX Multiband Antenna SOLD
2. Daiwa CN101L. SWR AND POWER METER. NEW. (COST $130). $45
3. ASTRON POWER Supply SOLD.
NOTE: All 3 items include instructions Contact: Larry Jones,
ljonesnc4@gmail.com or at 252 617-0525. Will consider reasonable offers.
(20200309)
**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:
* Apr 4, FCC License Examination/VE Session, Saturday, 9 am, Florence
Whortonsville VFD. NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. NO WALK INS. RESTRICTED TO
EXAMINEES AND VE’S ONLY. Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or
drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Apr 25, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Venue TBD. For more
info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* May 30, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Venue TBD. 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
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.
Stay safe: Reach out by radio!
73, Jim AI4WL
——
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