PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) Jan 29, 2023, MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-three PARS members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am
Saturday breakfast meeting chaired by President Mike Marsh, K4NLC, at
Brantley’s Village Restaurant.
* Mike recognized Life Member Chris Mele, W4SLH, and our newest member,
Dick Marsh, KO4OFP. Christine brought along a ham related item for our
next monthly drawing.
* No awards or upgrades were reported.
* Mike delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally.
* Propagation Report: Quiet sun. Activity has been very low for the
past few days, 7 sunspot regions with 84 sunspots. 90 day solar flux
average is up to 152, a good sign as cycle 25 continues to improve. Prop
good this a.m. Our QRP FT8 transmission was received 11690 miles distant
near Perth, Australia.
* DX. Look for most wanted #2 Bouvet, 3YOJ and #3 Crozet this coming week.
* ARES/Pamlico Communications Net: Mike reported Wednesday night
check-ins are up. All are welcome
* Bruce, was unable to attend but Mike advised the Feb 4th meeting of
the Pamlico Communications Team is on track. The focus will be on DMR,
the growing NC4ES network, digital repeaters, and more. A hurricane
preparation exercise is on tap. Info and sign-up on NCTerms.
* Paul reported the N4PRS web site is doing well despite constant
barrage of bot attempts to gain access, 120 attacks this morning, around
1000 weekly. There were 240 “real” visits in the last 30 days, 99% USA.
* Lor, W3QA, reported no changes on the Arapahoe repeater. Bill, KR4LO
commented there is an intermittent noise issue, mostly when it is very
windy. Fix being planned.
* Lithium dioxide batteries don’t like being charged at freezing temps
or below. Bill and Mike advised Bruce has placed heating mats under the
batteries to keep them comfy. Bill reminded all that both Arapahoe and
Kershaw repeaters are totally off the grid.
* The WM3X C4FM WiresX node has been solid according Bill. The
America-KC-Wide room (talk-group) is very popular. Still lots to learn
about the node’s capabilities.
* No drawing this week… Bruce had the tickets. Mike noted that a
number of members are getting to Brantleys early for breakfast and
catching up. Come early if you can.
* There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:31 am.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. The largest solar event was a C-2
flare. There are 6 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 9 last Monday. The Prediction Center expects solar
activity to be low today through Wednesday with a slight chance (15%)
for M-class flares.
Yesterday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was
- Last Sunday’s was 199. The index is predicted to measure 140 today,
140 tomorrow and 135 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was
152 yesterday. It was 149 last Monday.
The Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. It is expected to be
quiet through Wednesday. The estimated Kp-index of 1.33 reported at 7
a.m. local this morning indicated quiet geomagnetic conditions.
For today, we can expect good operating conditions on 80 through 15
meters and fair day and poor night conditions on 12 and 10.
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 THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARLD004 DX news:
BOUVET, 3Y. A large group of operators will be QRV as 3Y0J. Activity
will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and FT8. QSL via M0OXO.
WALLIS AND FUTUNA ISLANDS, FW. Jean-Gabriel, F4CIX, is QRV as FW1JG
and expects to be here until January 2024. He is active on 40 to 6
meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via LoTW.
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: Ameritron AL-811 3 tube has new 572b tubes. It works but
needs some work, possibly just some cleaning. I have extra 811 tubes
some might be good that can go with it. $400 obo. Cody Vanhook, KN4RFG,
can call or text (252) 229-4542 (20221212)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Feb 4, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING, Saturday, 9-10:30am,
Oriental VFD Station 19 on Straight Rd vic. NC-55. AUXCOMM & ARES–All
are welcome. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730
or K4ONC@aol.com
* Feb 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
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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