PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
We had another great monthly PARS meeting on Saturday. We were joined
by two new newly licensed members, Robbie Pegram, KO4KQC, and Richard
Houyoux, who is awaiting his call assignment. I’ve already worked
Robbie on the Oriental repeater, and I’m looking forward to working
Richard soon. We also had a great discussion about expanding our
meetings and the website as well with the addition of video content.
Many of our members have cell phones that can take videos, and send them
to either Steve, KO4EDA, our ZOOM host, and/or Paul, K4MMB, our website
guy. More details to follow as we get up and running. _…_ I love
state QSO parties. They are a great opportunity to get into contesting
casually without the raging storms of QRM and staccato style QSO’s so
common in the larger national and international events. The operators
are in general friendly and polite, especially when the newbie on the
other end isn’t quite sure of what the exchange is. We’ve just finished
Carolina QSO weekend, South on Saturday and North on Sunday. Note that
state QSO parties are not limited to in-state operators. Among my
contacts in yesterday’s event were with West Virginia and Delaware, two
of the more difficult states to work for WAS. I got my WAS years ago
when I lived up north, but I may start over from my Carolina QTH .
…_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY NOW ON YOUTUBE!
Fast as a speeding bullet, right after the suggestion from (I think) Bob
Heil and a short discussion led by Bruce, K4ONC, at the PARS meeting,
Steve Silveira, KO4EDA, put our own YouTube channel on line Saturday
afternoon. The first “episode” is our January PARS meeting presentation
featuring Bob Heil. You can find it on YOUTUBE at “N4PRS Radio”. Look
for more on our channel soon.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was low during the 24 hour period ending
yesterday at 5 pm local. The largest solar event of the period was a C3
flare observed at 1:46 a.m. Sunday. There is one numbered sunspot region
on the Sun facing Earth this morning, another is forming. Solar activity
is expected be very low through Wednesday with a chance for a C-class
flare today. On Sunday the observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton
was 78. The index is predicted to register 78 today and then 74 Tuesday
and Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is down to 79.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. NOAA expected
conditions to be quiet to active today then reach minor storm levels
Tuesday and then quiet to unsettled Wednesday. The storms arrived early.
A moderately strong G2-class geomagnetic storm was in progress early
this morning as our Earth entered a high-speed stream of solar wind. The
estimated Kp-index of 4 reported at 7 a.m. local this morning after
reaching Kp-6 earlier reflects our current unsettled geomagnetic
conditions.
Today’s prop forecast is poor across the HF Bands. For the next several
days, we can expect poor daytime and fair nighttime operating conditions
on 80 and 40 meters, poor on the higher bands. On Sunday for the NC QSO
Party we experienced our best conditions on 40M, terrible conditions on
20 and above. 80 may have offered better, but no antenna here for 80.
Absolutely nothing was heard on 6M.
As always, the QSO Party proved to be great fun. About 50 contacts in,
our tiny 6 watt CQ was answered by Scott, N3FJP up in Maryland and we
had a nice short chat. We’ve run into Scott several times… Field Days,
previous QSO parties. It was super to work several other QRP stations.
One ham sent his battery powered 2.5 watts out of some remote snow
covered cabin in VT. Apparently there was a lot of rain to the north
starting at the DC area and running up into Maine. Folks were happy to
see the snow melting. We were answered by a ham in PA who had lived near
Camp Jo Jane for over 21 years. Now, twenty years later, he said his
wife still asks him why they left. Most city-dwellers were totally
envious of our living in a county with only 2 signal lights. Although we
ended up working mostly out of staters, it was good to log N4PRS (Dick,
K4JJW, in disguise as a Pamlico County guy) and Tom, KI4NSP out for a
bit of fun.
For an explanation of the 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.
**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.
PARS CALENDAR:
* Mar 27, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
“Zoom”. We look for a return visit by Bob Heil, K9EID, of Heil Audio.
For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X, 252-249-1175 or
drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Apr 24, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Virtual Meeting via
“Zoom” or at Brantleys Restaurant, Oriental. 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
COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE FOR PAMLICO COUNTY
In addition to the Health Department and CCHC, Bayboro Pharmacy is now
scheduling vaccine appointments. Our County task force reports that
“While the number of COVID-19 cases is declining overall in North
Carolina, we are not seeing a similar decrease in Pamlico County. Our
case rate is remaining fairly steady at 5-7 per day. The 2/24 update
from Pamlico County Emergency Management reported 43 active cases in the
County, and a total case count of 944, an increase of 11 in two days.”
For more see:
https://mailchi.mp/5db8c24be13a/covid-19-variants-and-vaccine-update-for-pamlico-county?e=adb5dfd6c4
Please mask up in public and stay safe.
73, Jim AI4WL
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