BIT BUCKET
* The Suriname Stamp commemorating Amelia Earhart’s last flight was not
printed in 1937 as we reported in the January meeting notes last week.
Paul, K4MMB, advises: … the “stamp was produced in 1967 by the Suriname
Postal Authority to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s
visit to Suriname in 1937. Printed by photogravure (hand etched)
process it was issued on June 3rd 1967. A face value of 20 Suriname
cents is probably worth about $0.10 US.”
* From Mark, K1MAP, out by the Cedar Island Ferry: For February and
March, 3 beacons are on the air from Cedar Island. 144.282, 222.054 and
432.315. Please send reception reports to Mark, K1MAP,
caseyhardware@gmail.com.
PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS NET REPORT
–For last Wednesday night’s Pamlico Communications Net, we had 18
check-ins, a goodly number for sure, and 6 check-ins via WinLink. Our
most distant was Wayne, KO4OJC, remote from Orlando, Florida via Harlowe
with a little help from the internet. Closer to home, Scott, K4WSP, made
the trip direct from Pactolis, a LOS distance of 48.7 miles and Bob,
WA2FIS, made it from Cove City, about 34 plus miles. Says a lot about
the range of the Kershaw (Oriental) repeater.
–Our current PACE Plan, the plan that lists back-up and alternate
repeaters during emergencies, has the 444.35 Kershaw UHF repeater as the
alternate for the 147.210 Oriental VHF repeater. Next follows is simplex
(talk around) on the VHF repeater’s frequency (147.210 MHz). Those
checking in were asked whether they had the capability to communicate
via the alternate (UHF) repeater. Ten indicated they had the equipment.
Of those 10, about half said they could switch to it quickly, the others
had to do some work. Expect a simplex test soon. Rather than change
your memory setting on the fly, you might want to program a separate
simplex memory channel for the repeater and label it something you can
remember (147.210 MHz, simplex, no tone).
–Thanks to all who checked-in. Hope to talk to you again on Wednesday.
Jim, AI4WL
NC QSO PARTY SUNDAY FEB 25,2024
Think about spending some time with your friends at the NC QSO
Party. It’s good fun. As we noted last week, based on the past be
prepared to work a pile-up. Party-goers want to put Pamlico County in
their logs.
The party starts at 10 am and ends at 8 pm. The exchange is simple,
call sign and county (PAM). Bands are 80 through 2 meters, no 160, no
WARC. Modes include phone, CW, and digital but no FT8 or FT4.
As in recent years, Bill Michne, WM3X, will fire up his rig, put up
the PARS CALL SIGN, N4PRS, and open the doors to members, guests, and
friends who wish to come to the party. Stay an hour, stay longer. Let
him know that you are coming.
For more info and the complete rules go to the NC QSO Party Web
site at www.ncqsoparty.org. For local info from those who’ve played,
contact Jim, AI4WL at 675-3590; Dick, K4JJW at
rgoodwin41@suddenlink.net; or Bill, WM3X, at 249-1175.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was high during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 pm. local. The largest solar event of the period
was a M9 event observed 6:30 pm Saturday. This caused a strong shortwave
radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean. The Space Weather Prediction
Center expects solar activity to be moderate today through Wednesday
with a 65% chance for M-class flares and a 20% chance for X-class
flares. There are 7 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth
this morning. There were 8 last Monday, 5 the Monday before. Short
blackouts (R1) are likely.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 180,
last Sunday’s was 170. The index is predicted to measure 182 today, 180
Tuesday and 180 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was 160
yesterday. It was 156 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to reach minor storm levels today, active to major storm
levels on Tuesday, unsettled to minor storm levels on Wednesday. The
planetary K-index at 7 am this morning was 0.33 indicating quiet conditions.
For today and tomorrow, propagation is expected to be poor on the 80
through 20 meter bands during the day, good at night. Propagation is
predicted to be good day and night for 17 and 15; good day, poor at
night for 12 and 10. Much like last week.
Nauru, C21TS, made a visit last week. Nepal 9N7AA, was also seen and
heard although very light on 20M. Look for the Solomon Islands, H44MS,
this week. 5X70 from Uganda has been strong and easy to work.
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 ARLD006 DX news:
–SAMOA, 5W. Operators YT1AD, YU3AA, UA9OLY, and RC9O are QRV as
5W8A, 5W0AA, 5W0LY, and 5W0RC, respectively, from February 10 to 19.
Activity will be on the HF bands.
–UGANDA, 5X. Alan, G3XAQ and Don, G3XTT will be QRV as 5X1XA from
February 12 to 20. Activity will be on the HF bands using only CW.
–EASTER ISLAND, CE0. A large group of operators will be QRV as CB0ZA
from Robinson Crusoe Island, IOTA SA-001, from February 10 to 24.
Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters, including 60 meters, using CW,
SSB, RTTY, and FT8 in DXpedition mode.
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. Thanks, Jim.
–FOR SALE:
- Yaesu FT2DR handheld, digital/analog C4FM includes radio, antenna,
box and data cable $300 obo
- Kenwood TS-820S, operational with strong tubes gives 100+ watts out!
Includes radio, kenwood box, power cord, hand mic and spare donor parts
rig $475 obo
- I’m looking for a backup/ secondary hf + 6m solid state rig so I will
be open to trades or working out a deal if your interested in any of my
listed items!
Contact Cody, KN4RFG, at 252-229-4542 or codyakamudduck2005@gmail.com
(20240122)
–FOR SALE:
#1 – YAESU SWR & POWER METER 1.6-60MHz YS-60. Working. Exceptional
little unit — needs a better home. $60.00 Pickup in Merritt.
#2 – MFJ Artificial Ground MFJ-931. Works as it should (at least, it did
when I last used it). Dusty & lonely & needs a new home. $90.00 Pickup
in Merritt.
#3 – ICOM IC-735 HF Transceiver. Used. Working. Missing the plastic
cover over the slider controls. $225.
Contact Jan, KK4LSQ, 252-239-3953 or kk4lsq.onc@gmail.com (20231218)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Feb 24, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Mar 2, 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
REPEATER/NODE STATUS
(See www.n4prs.org/frequencies/ for set-up)
N4ONC VHF FM Oriental — Operational
N4ONC (old KR4LO) UHF FM Oriental — Operational
NC4ES VHF FM/DMR Arapahoe — Non-operational.
NC4ES UHF DMR Florence — Operational
WM3X-ONC VHF C4FM/WIRES-X NODE Oriental (145.530 simplex)– Operational
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* Mondays, “Pamlico 10 Meter Net, 7:30 pm local, on or near 28.464 MHz,
USB. A non-directed net open to technicians and above. Radio
topics/questions/issues welcomed.
* Wednesdays,”Pamlico Communications Net”, 7:30 pm local, N4ONC
(Oriental) VHF Repeater, 147.210+ (CTSCC Tone Squelch 88.5). A directed
net open to all. Net activates on call during emergencies.
* 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 Editor
——–
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