PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) JUL 29, 2023 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am Saturday
breakfast meeting chaired by President Mike Marsh, K4NLC, at Brantley’s
Village Restaurant.
* Awards and Upgrades: Dick, K4JJW, has already received his
certificate and several QSL cards from this year’s just ended 13
Colonies on the Air event. He passed them along for all to see.
* Mike delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally.
* AI4WL’s Propagation Report: After a week of moderate activity, the
forecast is the same for next week including the 40% chance for M-class
flares. We’ve had a lot of those pesky solar flares, some causing short
term R-1 level HF radio “blackouts”–periods of intense X-ray ionization
of the ionosphere’s denser D-layer–for those sunlit portions of the
Earth. The signal attenuation during the blackouts is greatest on the
lower HF frequencies which can be completely absorbed or “blacked out”.
Absent a blackout, the best conditions will be on the 17-15 meter bands,
40 and 20 will be marginal but better at night. Expect 6 meter operation
to be hit or miss; there has been some recent Es into Europe. As for DX,
look for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, 1A0C, with 5 stations
until Aug 2 and Laos, XW0LP, on 20M FT8.
* At our last meeting, Dick, K4JJW, encouraged participation in this
year’s “Colonies on the Air” event. He was successful. After polling
those present, it appears at least 12 members made colony contacts, most
completing a “clean sweep” of the 13 colony states and also contacts
with the three bonus stations, some several times. At least three
members did it using 10 watts or less, others used one or more of three
modes, CW, Voice, Digital. The French station, TM13Col, with only one
operator, seemed the most difficult to reach. There was lots of interest
in doing it again next year.
* Repeater update: Bruce, K4ONC, advised that the refurbished Kershaw
Oriental repeater is back on the air with a new controller and added
capabilities. Some may have heard the new over-the-air announcements. An
initial attempt last Tuesday to access the Arapahoe software to modify
its capability failed so it was returned to operation. It continues to
provide FM analog and local DMR service.
* Bill Olah was auctioneer for the equipment donated to the club by the
estate of Tommy Banks, W4XMT, who passed last December. The bidding was
active–actually intense over some items. The winners took home a
variety of very desirable equipment at bargain prices. Thanks to Tommy
and his kind family, the club raised $1,110.00. There is more equipment
from Tommy and others to be auctioned at the next and future meetings.
* Mike reaffirmed he will not stand for re-election in October. Bill
Michne will again head the nominating committee.
* Brian Shepard, K4LTE, drew the winning number for a Brantleys Gift
Certificate; Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, took home a “PARS Coaster” crafted by
Rick, NN2S, and Dick Goodwin, K4JJW, a PARS bumper sticker.
* There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:31 am.
THE PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM (PCT) MEETS SATURDAY
The PCT will meet at Oriental VFD Station 19 on Saturday, Aug 5th, 9 am.
Bill Olah, KR4LO, will lead a seminar on antennas. Get the latest on the
ongoing upgrade of the Oriental-Kershaw VHF repeater and plans for the
Arapahoe repeater. Have questions on digital modes and networks, code
plugs? Need help on programming that HT be it analog or digital, let
Bruce know. Have ideas or desires for future PCT technical seminars,
hands-on projects? Bring ’em. Everyone is welcome. For more info,
contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
“WHAT HAPPENED TO AMELIA EARHART” — A Reminder
By email and on Wednesday’s net, Danny Garris, President of NBARC,
invited all to their next meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, Aug 7th at
Moore’s Olde Tyme BBQ, 3621 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd in New Bern. It will be
special. Our Bill Michne, WM3X, will again be presenting “The Role of
Radio in the Disappearance of Amelia Earhart” and offering his research
on what might have happened to her. Bill’s talk at our June PARS meeting
fascinated everyone. If you missed it, here’s your opportunity to hear
the story thanks to the New Bern club. For more info contact Danny,
WD4CQ, at 252-670-9955 or garristv@hotmail.com.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was moderate during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The Prediction Center expects solar
activity to be moderate today through Wednesday with a 50/50 chance for
M-class flares each day and a very slight chance for X-class flares.
There are 9 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 7 last Monday, 5 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 174.
Last Sunday’s was 173. The index is predicted to measure 170 today, 165
Tuesday and 165 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing
average was 165 yesterday. It was 163 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled Sunday. Conditions are
expected be quiet to unsettled today today, quiet to minor storm levels
Tuesday and Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 8 am this morning was
2.00 indicating quiet conditions.
For the next few days, HF conditions will be basically unchanged and
expected to be poor on 80 through 20 during the day, good at night. The
best conditions during both day and night are on the 17 and 15 meter
bands. According to NOAA, radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are
likely. Twelve and 10 meters should be good during the day but poor at
night.
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 TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARLD030 DX news:
–SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA, 1A. A large group of operators
are QRV as 1A0C from the Magistral Villa on the Aventine Hill until
August 2. Activity is with five stations on 80 to 6 meters,
including 60 meters, using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. They also plan
to be active on the LEO and QO-100 Satellites. QSL via EA5RM.
–LAOS, XW. Simon, HS0ZIB is QRV as XW0LP from Luang Prabang.
Activity is currently on 20 meters using FT8, but plans to be active
soon on other bands. QSL via EA5GL.
–MYANMAR, XZ. Akio, JE2QIZ is QRV as XZ2B from Yangon until the end
of September. Activity is on 15, 12, 10, and 6 meters using CW.
QSL via JH3SIF.
HAM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR WANTED
Send me your amateur radio related items that are for sale, trade, or
wanted and your contact information. 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.
SOLD: AnyTone 778uv Dual Band Radio, $65.
FOR SALE
— d104 lollipop type-9volt-side key mic, found while exploring boxes of
equipment in my storage room, tested it, it works!…missing a screw or
two. $75.
— Icom IC 2300h 65w 2 meter mobile is out of production. It will be
replaced with IC 3500h with enhanced feature and price (+$50). Very few
2300s left. Contact Danny Lupton at idlupton@bizec.rr.com (20230515)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Aug 5, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEETING, Saturday, 9-10:30am,
Oriental VFD Station 19 on Straight Rd vic. NC-55. All are welcome. For
more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Aug 26, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Mike Marsh, K4NLC,
252-636-1257 or mike@MarshConsulting.org
REPEATER/NODE STATUS
(See www.n4prs.org/frequencies/ for set-up)
N4ONC (“Above Average”) VHF FM Oriental — Operational
KR4LO UHF FM Oriental — Operational
NC4ES VHF FM/DMR Arapahoe — Operational
NC4ES UHF DMR Florence — Operational
WM3X-ONC VHF C4FM/WIRES-X NODE Oriental — Operational
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). A directed net
open to all.
* 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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