PRESIDENT’S SOAPBOX
Here is some depressing news. The world wide amateur radio operator
population is declining. For example, in the last two decades the
number of Japanese licensees has decreased by over 600,000. The US
boasts over 700,000 licensees, but the number of active operators is a
tiny fraction of that number. I know a number of licensees in the area
who are not active. When asked, they didn’t even know their own
callsigns! Now, when someone extends a sale, for example, it’s usually
because the response was underwhelming. Enter the Intrepid-DX Group
Youth Essay Contest. This year’s topic is, “How can amateur radio
evolve to remain relevant in the age of the internet?” Well, the
deadline has been extended because of lack of respondents, even though
the prize is a brand new Icom IC-7300. It seems like amateur radio may
have already missed this boat. Which brings me to a closely related
topic. We are about 3 weeks away from the annual PARS election of
officers. There are four offices to be filled, president,
vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. At the present time we need
at least two candidates to stand for these positions. We have over 60
members in this club, and as of this writing we have zero candidates.
_…_ There will be no President’s Soapbox next week. My second harmonic
and his wife will be visiting along with my two third harmonics. While
they are physically small, their energy levels are several dB above
mine, and the XYL and I will need time outs whenever we can get them.
…_._ de WM3X, Bill Michne, 252-249-1175, drmich;e73@gmail.com
W4SLH ORIENTAL REPEATER UPDATE / CALLSIGN CHANGE
From Bruce Perkins, K4ONC:
Greetings W4SLH repeater users. As many of you are aware, I became the
owner of the W4SLH Oriental repeater back in June of this year, just
prior to the death of then owner, Glenn Everest, N4LV. Since that time,
the only changes to the repeater have been the naming of Control
Operators and antenna repair work on the tower. However, recently I
began thinking about the long term future of the repeater and it’s
ownership. Therefore, to maintain a smooth transition of operation, I
have decided to place the repeater and all it’s associated equipment
into the ownership of a club of limited membership. The club, “The
Oriental Repeater Group”, consists of the following Control Operators;
Lor Kutchins, W3QA; Bill Olah, KR4LO; Gary Mitchelson, NC3Z; Mike Marsh,
K4NLC, and myself as the Club Trustee. In addition, a new vanity
callsign has been issued by the FCC to replace the current W4SLH
callsign. Therefore, sometime during the week of October 10, 2021, the
Oriental repeater callsign will become “N4ONC”.
As many of you know, Joel Mele, W4SLH SK, built the repeater, the
building (shack) and the tower at the Kershaw Road site. The W4SLH
repeater went on the air in November 2000. The purpose of the repeater
was to provide emergency backup communications for the Oriental Police,
Fire Department and Rescue Squad, in addition to being used by the local
amateur radio community.
Local amateurs who lent their support, encouragement and sponsorship to
Joel to make this all happen included Jack Bentley, K4IMK; Tom Finta,
K8TF; and Pete Zawasky, AG7C. In addition, thanks go to Danny Baker,
N6XWF, who was the Oriental Public Works Director at the time. And to
the Oriental Town Council who provided support of the antenna feed line
and the antenna installation on the tower.
After Joel’s death in 2007, Joel’s wife Christine, herself an amateur
radio operator, acquired the W4SLH callsign. Christine continued the
operation of the repeater with the help of Glenn Everest SK, N4LV, and
Bill Olah, KR4LO. Shortly thereafter she turned over the ownership of
the W4SLH repeater to Glenn. Also during this time, Christine sold the
ownership of the tower and site to a Florida tower company. Since then
the tower and site were sold again and are currently owned by American
Tower.
I spoke to Christine Mele recently and informed her of the changes that
have been made in regards to the repeater ownership and callsign change.
She was in agreement with the changes and happy that the repeater will
continue to be used and enjoyed by the local amateur radio community.
Finally, I received from Christine a couple photographs taken in 2002.
One of Joel standing in front of the repeater building door and the
other of his parents standing next to the tower. Those photos along with
a newspaper article regarding the repeater, from the November 8, 2000
edition of the “Pamlico News”, will be framed and hung on the wall of
“The Shack” at the repeater site, in honor of Joel. Copies of same will
be posted by Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, on the N4PRS website for all to see.
Stay Safe and 73,
Bruce Perkins – K4ONC
N4ONC Trustee
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported solar activity was low during the 24 hour period ending
yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The largest solar event was a C2 event at
09/2257Z. There are three NOAA reported numbered sunspot regions on the
Sun facing Earth this morning. The Prediction Center expects solar
activity to be low through Wednesday, but with a slight chance for a
M-class flare each day. On Sunday the observed Solar Flux Index (SFI)
at Penticton was 85. (Last Sunday it was 86.) The index is predicted to
measure 85 today, tomorrow and on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing
average is 82.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. NOAA
expects conditions to reach major storm levels (G2) today, then quiet to
minor storm levels Tuesday and finally quiet to unsettled on Wednesday.
The storm and its residual effect is due to a CME from a M1.2 flare that
erupted on Saturday. The estimated Kp-index of 3 reported at 5 a.m.
local this morning reflects our current quiet geomagnetic conditions.
We can expect poor to fair operating conditions today on 80 and 40
meters, fair on 30 and 20, and poor on the higher bands. The VHF bands
are expected to remain quiet.
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.
DX NEWS
Extracted from ARLD040 DX News–
KINGDOM OF ESWATINI, 3DA0. A group of operators will be QRV as
3DA0WW from October 12 to 26. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters
using CW, SSB, and various digital modes. QSL via operators’
instructions.
GUINEA-BISSAU, J5. Members of the Italian DXpedition Team will be
QRV as J5T and J5HKT from Bubaque Island, IOTA AF-020, until October 22
using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8, respectively. Activity will
be on 160 to 6 meters. QSL via I2YSB.
Ed. note–Both of the above entities were seen on 7.056 MHz FT8 Saturday
evening, 9 Oct, at the same time. Guinea-Bissau was operating Fox &
Hound (DXpedition Mode) but Eswatini was not. Popular FT8 (F&H)
frequencies being used by DXpeditions include: 1840, 3567, 7056, 10131,
14090, 18095, 21091, 24911 and 28091 kHz. You might want to add these to
your wsjt-x frequency list.
ANTARCTICA. A group of operators are QRV as KC4USV from McMurdo
Station on Ross Island, IOTA AN-011, until October 31. Activity is
on 40 and 20 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via K7MT.
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 Jim Cason, AC4JC:
I have some significant health issues recently and desire to sell the
remaining ham gear. I have a used but working Icom IC7000 and the LDG
LT-100 Autotuner, also a VHF SWR meter, and several antennas. Priced at
whatever is fair.
But I have a special request along with this:
I have a 135′ longwire fed with twin line between two trees in front and
side yards. The antenna has been lowered slightly for wind resistance.
When it was installed, I had stainless pulleys arranged with parachute
cord on the trees so that the system could be lowered. The twin line
goes to a balun that is mounted on the roof, thence to a coaxial feed
line that connects at the side of the home. There is also a 2 meter/440
J-pole antenna mounted on the roof on a tripod mount. I’d like someone
(maybe the buyer?) to take these down, so that any risk of lightning
damage would be reduced. The system is grounded and there is a long
feed-through on a window sill for the HF antenna, and the VHF runs
smaller coax through the window. I put all this up a decade or so ago,
when I was able to do the work.
There is also a J-pole on my shop building behind the home that would
be available. The building is lower, so there would not be as much risk.
A small metal roof shed just behind the shop has a mobile mount with a
102″ whip plus an extension that was resonant on about 17 meters.
Available, just leave the part of the mount that covers the hole in the
roof of the shed.
Jim Cason, AC4JC, phone 252 636 0407, email jlcason@gmail.com, 4703
Carolina Avenue, Trent Woods, NC 28562 (20211003)
* For Sale: Icom IC-746PRO HF SOLD
PARS CALENDAR:
* Oct 30, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-249-1175 or drmichne73@gmail.com.
* Nov 27, 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 Communications Net”, 7:30 pm local, 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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