PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
The pandemic lockdown has led many people to new and interesting
activities that they may or may not have considered before. In the
world of ham radio one such activity is learning Morse code, aka CW. A
few PARS members have expressed interest in doing this and some have
actually started down that path. As a long time proponent of that mode
I am delighted by this development. I won’t make any comment on the
never ending no code/know code debate. Suffice it to say that operating
on CW is just plain fun. With the software available today you can
teach yourself the code and have fun doing it. The best way to learn
the code or to improve your speed if you already know the code is the
so-called Koch method. There are several apps available for your
computer or phone, and most are based on the Koch method. Here is a
link to an excellent article on the method and how to use it:
www.qsl.net/n1irz/finley.morse.html. It will take some work, of course,
but if you devote just 15 minutes a day, every day, I can almost
guarantee that within two months you will be making CW contacts on the
air. So why not go for it? …_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne,
252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
AUXCOMM SUPPORT TO COVID RELIEF
A Note from Bruce, K4ONC:
“I just got home from Greenville. Lor and I spent the day at the
Greenville Convention Center assisting with the COVID-19 vaccinations.
We were assigned to the Communications Unit, issuing radios to many of
the staff working the event, under the ICS plan. A very well organized
event. Lor is staying overnight and working again on Monday. I will be
returning next week for two days.” Thanks guys!
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was very low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 pm local. Again this Monday, there are no numbered
sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this morning. Solar activity is
expected be very low through Wednesday. On Sunday the observed Solar
Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 73. The index is predicted to register
73 today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is 83.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field reached minor (G1) storm level yesterday.
It is expected to be quiet to active today and then quiet to unsettled
on Tuesday and Wednesday. Solar wind blowing from a large coronal hole
is causing the storms disturbing the Earth’s geomagnetic field. The
estimated Kp-index of 1 reported at 7 a.m. local this morning indicates
we are currently experiencing quiet geomagnetic conditions.
For the next several days, we can expect fair daytime and good nighttime
operating conditions on 80 and 40 meters, fair on 30 and 20, and poor on
the higher bands. Even with disturbed conditons yesterday there was
significant activity on the HF bands, much of it due to the Vermont and
Minnesota QSO Parties and the 10-10 Winter Contest. Yep, there was
action on ten meters and even some good DX courtesy of E layer skip and
TEP. Sideband activity was heard near the calling frequency on six
meters. With the bands heating up, it’s time to get ready for the NC QSO
Party at the end of the month.
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**
Tarheel 75A HF mobile antenna combo. Includes Tarheel 6′ Stainless Steel
Whip, Whip Quick Twist Disconnect, Plus these unused original parts:
Control Cable, Manual Switch, Fuseholder & Fuse, Original box and
Manual. $350. Contact Gary Mitchelson, NC3Z/4, nc3z.gary@gmail.com or
252-745-0655.
**WANTED- ICOM IC-7700 Transceiver**
Wanted, late model with serial number starting with 1. Please contact
Don Smith, KJ4RB, at kj4rb@embarqmail.com or 252-568-4011. (20210125)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Feb 27, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
“Zoom”. Our guest speaker will be Marv Hoffman, WA4NC, ARRL North
Carolina Section Manager. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Mar 27, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
“Zoom”. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or
drmichne73@gmail.com.
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* 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
Please mask up in public and stay safe.
73, Jim AI4WL
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