PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
This past Saturday morning we saw the 1st Oriental Flounderfest parade.
Among the featured floats was the N4PRS tractor mobile unit in
operation. I was able to work it on 2 meters FM through the local
repeater just before the parade began. But once the entourage started
moving the QRM from the blaring horns, sirens, PA systems, etc., would
have made it impossible to hear the tractor station, let alone work it.
Kudos to Paul, K4MMB, for putting the tractor mobile together and
operating it. Hopefully it piqued the interest of some in the audience
to look into amateur radio. _…_ So I finally got set up to operate
FT8. I had to do it. If I wasn’t on FT8, there was no one to talk to
on the radio, except for some OT CW ops and the occasional CQ heard on
the phone bands. It’s a pretty high level of automation, though. You
double click on a station you want to work and your computer takes over.
It sends and receives the signal report and location information,
exchanges 73’s, logs the contact, and then (I couldn’t believe this at
first) calls CQ and gets an answer! It then finishes that QSO and
repeats the CQ! At one point I had to be away from the shack for a few
days, and without thinking I left the equipment on. When I got back I
discovered that the computer had worked more DXCC entities than I had,
and there was an error message on the screen, that read, “I want my own
call!” I typed my response, “Well, you’ll have to study and take the
exams.” That’s when things really started going down hill. …_._ de
WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmichne73@gmail.com.
PARS IN THE FLOUNDER FESTIVAL PARADE
Three of our PARS members were seen last Saturday morn in Oriental’s
July 4th celebration Flounder Festival Parade. All were making
themselves heard on the Oriental Repeater as were PARS parade watchers
and members at home. Our poster member was web master Paul Jodoin,
K4MMB, “tractor mobile” on a restored John Deere, a very fitting PARS
parade entry for rural Pamlico County. Also making noise was Mike Hurm,
K4HPS, with microphone in hand, scooting along on his motorized cooler
as part of the Shriner contingent, the “Cooligans”. And you may have
missed Station 25 Fire Chief, Gary Mitchelson, NC3Z, driving the big red
Florence-Whortonsville fire truck with his HT at his side. Photos will
be posted on the PARS web page, www.n4prs.org.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was moderate during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The largest event was a M1 class solar
flare early Sunday at 0509Z. There are three numbered sunspot regions on
the Sun facing Earth this morning. Our newest sunspot region, AR2839, is
growing rapidly, still the Prediction Center expects solar activity to
be very low through Wednesday. There is a slight chance for a M-class
flare each day. On Sunday the observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at
Penticton was 91. (Last Sunday it was 87.) The index is predicted to
reach 90 today and Tuesday and then drop to 85 Wednesday. The SFI 90
day trailing average is up to 78 from 76 last week, a significant increase.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. NOAA expects
conditions to be quiet to unsettled today and tomorrow and then quiet on
Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 1 reported at 5 a.m. local this
morning reflects our current quiet geomagnetic conditions.
We can expect fair daytime and good nighttime operating conditions today
on 80 and 40 meters, good on 30 and 20, fair on 17 and 15, and poor on
12 and 10. Six meters, the magic band, has shown lots of activity this
past week with openings each day.
While we were away from our HF radios and at the Oriental Flounder
Festival parade Saturday morning, the most significant solar flare in 4
years occurred. Sunspot region AR2838, just about to rotate off the face
of the Sun, let loose with a big X1.5-class explosion around 10:29 am
local time. Even though the blast was not a direct hit, the event caused
a shortwave radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean. This was the first
X-class flare of Solar Cycle 25. We can expect many more.
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 are 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 by Danny Garris, WD4CQ, GarrisTV@hotmail.com or 252-670-9955
– ANYTONE 588UV III Tri-Band Mobile Transceiver (144/220/440) complete
with the USB programming cable. Brand-new – (In Original Box) $249.00
– COMET CX-333 Tri-Band Base Antenna (144/220/440) Brand-new – (In
Original Packaging) $159.00
– JETSTREAM 30 AMP Compact Power Supply 25 AMP Continous – JTPS32MAB
Brand-New – (In Original Packaging). Professionally Added Qty 2X
Mounting screws to top case for mobile bracket mounting. $94.00
PARS CALENDAR:
* Jul 31, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Aug 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.
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
PARS YOUTUBE CHANNEL–N4PRS RADIO
Videos of recorded PARS Meetings, presentations, and club activities can
be viewed on on the N4PRS Radio YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpEMfxc7PQixT0rr5xEKtyQ
73, Jim AI4WL
——
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