PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
The current pandemic has certainly wiped out a lot of activities that
people enjoy doing. This includes a lot of amateur radio activities.
License classes, exam sessions, club meetings, club projects, etc., are
all experiencing drought conditions. Nevertheless, amateur radio being
what it is, is never at a loss for new things to do. I don’t mean to
limit that to just NEW new things. There are tons of old things that
you’ve never tried that qualify as new to you. For example, I just
discovered websdr.org. Many of you may be familiar with it, but it is
new to me. In a nutshell, it allows you to listen across the radio
spectrum with just your computer. Receiving stations are scattered
throughout the world, and cover a range of frequencies. It is in effect
a broad spectrum reverse beacon network. Let’s say I want to work into
Europe on 15 meters, but I’m not hearing many signals. So I call CQ and
listen for my own signal on an sdr receiver located in, say, England. If
I can hear myself I know that others in England can hear me, and I might
be able to make a QSO. It’s also a great way for new Technicians to
listen to activity on the HF bands without investing in a transceiver.
There are probably lots of other applications. What a great pastime for
sheltering in place! …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175,
drmichne73@gmail.com.
WE KNOW HURRICANES, BUT EARTHQUAKES?
At least two of our members were on unsteady ground at 8:07 am Sunday
morning when the strongest earthquake in nearly 100 years shook the
State from about 2 1/2 miles south of Sparta, NC. At 5.1 on the Richter
Scale, the trembler was felt from Georgia to Virginia and West into
Tennessee. At a cabin near Union Hill, NC, Bill Cresswell, K2ONN, was
more or less coping with the “new normal” only 14 miles from the
epicenter. Jamie King, KJ4JK was in his 3rd floor condo a bit farther
south, 81 road miles from Sparta. Jamie said, when it hit… “The
building swayed a little and I didn’t have to stir my coffee with a
spoon.” For Bill, being so close made the quake even more exciting. He
reported, “A loud BOOM followed by the house shaking mostly up and down,
the kitchen table and chairs shaking and the metal roof rattling. The
whole event lasted about 2 or 3 seconds. No damage.” He believes his
hound dog sensed something was going to happen in the minutes before.
Neither of our members were on the radio at the time, but Bill had a lot
to say a little later on the local Sunday morning net.
Find a doorway, stand in it. (old California proverb 😉 )
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hours
ending yesterday at 5 pm local. There is one sunspot region on the Sun
facing Earth this morning. It belongs to new Cycle 25. According to the
Space Weather Prediction Center activity will continue to be very low
through Wednesday with a slight chance for a C-class flare each day. On
Sunday the reported Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 74. The
index is predicted to register 75 today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The SFI
90 day trailing average is up one from last Monday to 70.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet through Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 1 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 and fair conditions day and night on 30 and 20. Expect
poor conditions on the higher HF bands. The VHF bands are quiet.
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
For listing in the PARSgram send me your amateur radio related items
that you have for sale, trade, or wanted. PLEASE let me know when you
have have sold your item or your listing is no longer needed. Listings
will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise.–Jim.
** NEW FOR SALE**
Cushcraft R-6000 vertical antenna for 6, 10, 12, 15, 17, and 20 meters.
Rated for 1500 watts, and no redials required. This is a pre-MFJ
version. Current HRO retail is $439.95 plus tax and shipping. My price
$150.00. Local pickup only. A portion of the proceeds will go to PARS.
Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175. (20200810)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Aug 29, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
Radio. 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 AND A REQUEST
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.
Did you complete your 2020 Census? If you did, thanks. If not, please
do so. If local census information is not accurate, it could hurt our
communities for the next 10 years. For more, please see:
https://mailchi.mp/9d14b8398cad/your-response-to-the-census-more-money-for-the-people-of-pamlico-county?e=adb5dfd6c4
73 and stay safe, Jim AI4WL
——
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