FINDING REPEATERS, ANOTHER RESOURCE
A note from Bill Michne, WM3X:
On last week’s emergency training net the suggestion was made that some
of us might want to determine which more distant repeaters we can
access. If nothing else it would teach us how effective our equipment
is over various distances and directions. When I sat down to do it I
found that the usual repeater directory wasn’t very useful. Then I
discovered a free app for my phone called RepeaterBook. I’m sure a lot
of you are aware of it, but if not, take a look at it. By allowing it
to use your location it will produce a list of repeaters sorted by
distance from your location from 10 to 1,000 miles. You can also limit
it to machines on a single band, or to those with features you are
particularly interested in, such as digital modes. For most machines
you get distance and direction from your location, as well as frequency,
split, and tone info. Among the things I found are that I can easily
access the Engelhard 2 meter machine at 49 miles away, but couldn’t
access any of the machines in Greenville at 53 miles. Most of the path
between me and Engelhard is over salt water, which might have something
to do with it. Anyway, while I was at it, I had a great QSO with KC4PTA
on the Engelhard machine, who filled me in on the linking system of
machines up and down the Outer Banks. So you can learn a lot and make
new friends. Just one cautionary note if you want to explore this
activity though, don’t be a kerchunker. Just announce your call when
trying to access a repeater. de WM3X, Bill Michne.
TIMES ARE A’CHANGING
Some interesting numbers to ponder–and perhaps discuss at our next
meeting–from Dick Goodwin, K4JJW: According to Club Log, there were
928,000 HF QSO’s up-loaded to their site and logging system during the
one week period from April 25 to May 2nd. The QSO breakdown by mode
(rounded off) was:
FT8 66%
CW 12%
FT4 12%
SSB 9%
Others 1%
These statistics pretty clearly illustrate the major shift taking place
on the HF bands and the “digital revolution”. Just five years ago the
majority of us had never heard of WSJT-X and FT8 and FT4. In just 5
short years the FT4 and FT8 modes have far outpaced the traditional HF
SSB and CW modes. 73, Dick K4JJW
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. There are 5 numbered sunspot regions
on the Sun facing Earth this morning.
The Prediction Center expects solar activity to be low today, Tuesday
and Wednesday with a chance for M-class flares. At noon yesterday, the
observed Solar Flux Index (SFI) at Penticton was 119. Last Sunday it was
- The index is predicted to measure 118 at noon today, 116 Tuesday
and back to 118 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average is down
one from last Monday to 118.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. NOAA expects
conditions be quiet today and then quiet to unsettled on Tuesday and on
Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 1 reported at 5 a.m. local this
morning indicates current quiet geomagnetic conditions.
We can expect fair day and good operating conditions today on 80 to 40
meters, good day and good nighttime on 30 to 20. Conditions should be
fair on 17 and 15, and poor to fair on 12 and 10. In sum, about the same
as for early last week.
Time to pay attention. The magic band had a big opening yesterday.
DXmaps was jammed with red lines from the Northeast well into the
Midwest Sunday evening. As it was closing, even from here FT8 contacts
were made into Canada and the upper Midwest. Earlier in the day, Gary,
NC3Z was reporting TEP and Es prop into Central America and even Es into
the West Coast if I heard correctly. Folks, the summer season for 6
meters is upon us.
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
Extracted from ARRL DX News ARLD018-
PAPUA NEW GUINEA, P2. Alberto, EA4PL is QRV as P29LL from Port
Moresby. He is active on the HF bands. QSL via EA7FTR.
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS, VU4. Yuris, YL2GM is QRV as VU4W from
Andaman Island, IOTA AS-001, until May 16. Activity is on 160 to 10
meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8 in DXpedition mode. QSL to home
call.
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.
Updated For Sale: Hy-gain AV-18HT vertical antenna. Covers 80, 40, 20,
15, and 10 meters. See full specs at dxengineering.com. Antenna is
disassembled and can be delivered within 100 miles or so. $500 OBO. A
portion of the proceeds will go to PARS. Bill Michne, WM3X,
drmichne73@gmail.com, 252-249-1175 or 252-671-6703.(20220404)
PARS CALENDAR:
* May 28, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
* Jun 4, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING, Saturday, 9am,
Florence-Whortonsville VFD. AUXCOMM & ARES–All are welcome. For more
info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Jun 25, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
* Jun 25-26, ARRL Field Day, home operation. To add your score to that
of other PARS members for a combined club score, list your club
affiliation as “Pamlico Amateur Radio Society, LTD”. 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, N4ONC
(Oriental) Repeater, 147.210 + (CTSCC Tone Squelch 88.5).
* 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
73, Jim AI4WL
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