PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) April 26, 2025 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-three members, visitors and guests attended the 9 am Saturday
breakfast meeting at Brantley’s Village Restaurant chaired by President
Bruce Perkins, K4ONC. The members applauded our newest ham, Louise
Beasley, KR4CYB for earning her ticket.
* Bruce delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally.
* Buck, AA4SN, did a show & tell on his vintage 1960’s “Coffin Key” and
his recent QSO with another ham that also used one. Sam/Dave, KD2T,
reported that 160 meters really is alive. He worked the BVI last week.
* AI4WL’s Propagation Report: Solar activity has been low for the past
several days yet propagation has remained extremely good. 10 and 12
meter bands are still hot during the day but closing at night. A good
six meter season may be in the offing. For HF, the most reliable bands
continue to be the 15 and 17 meter bands. Upcoming DX includes the
Austral, Reunion, Ogasawara, and Marion islands.
* Paul, K4MMB, reported in the last 30 days there were 268 visitors to
the n4prs web site. They mostly looked at the repeater, what’s
happening, and PARsgram pages.
* Bruce reminded all that Mike, K4NLC, is now the PEN/PCN/ARES net
manager. Hank, KW1ZRD, is scheduled to be net controller in May. After
net DMR check-ins on the Arapahoe repeater have averaged around 8. The
popular (and relatively inexpensive) Baofeng DM-1701 DMR dual band HT
has been updated to an “A” version. The A version is recommended if
planning to use OpenGD77 firmware and CPS. The original version works
fine with its native firmware/CPS. Make sure yours comes with a
programming cable. Contact Wayne, KO4OJC, if you have questions/need help.
* The next PCT meeting will be on Saturday, May 10th. Too many people
out of town, town yard sale on May 3rd, cause date change. More on DMR,
programming help at meeting. Open house at the Eastern Branch Regional
Center in Kinston on May 13th will include a tour and short
presentations to prepare for the spring EHPC COMMEX on June 17th. Seats
for Pamlico hams still available. Contact Bruce for more info.
* Two pico balloons are still up and going strong. The N4PRS Pamlico
balloon is on its 7th lap, the NC4ES Greenville balloon is on it’s
6th. When close enough, their 20mw signals are being received by local
hams using WSPR mode on the WSJT-X program.
* Repeater news. Wayne and Bill KR4LO and the repeater group folks will
soon be changing out the controller on the Kershaw VHF repeater with a
ARCOM full featured controller. It will handle both the VHF and UHF
repeaters as well as a third port that will be used for internet
connectivity for inbound ALLstarLink and Echolink. It was also noted
that the New Bern club has reactivated a UHF FM repeater on the
Bridgeton Tower. This one’s on the Down East Link System. [W4EWN,
442.075+, PL 100Hz -ed] And, by the end of May, the long awaited VHF
FM/C4FM Fusion repeater on the Aurora tower should be active according
to John, KE4TZN.
* The next PARS meeting will be on May 31st.
* Dick Goodwin, K4JJW, took home a first aid kit; Louise Beasley,
KR4CYB, had the winning number for a Brantleys Gift Certificate.
* There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:42am.
SO WHERE ARE THEY NOW? THE GREAT EASTERN BALLOON ‘ROUND-ABOUT CONTINUES
As I draft this PARSgram on Sunday afternoon, the Greenville balloon,
NC4ES, still not catching favorable winds was slowly floating across
eastern Siberia; the Pamlico balloon, N4PRS, was moving much faster
southeast of Hawaii headed toward Mexico.
At 5am local this morning, NC4ES was over NE China near Suihua moving at
34mph toward Vladivostok. At 8:28pm last night when she went to sleep,
N4PRS was over the eastern Pacific headed toward Baja California. By
now, she should be over Mexico. About time to turn on your radio for a
listen.
Get updates from Matt, WU2V/Chief Balloonist, and the links for tracking
the balloons at:
https://easternhpc.com/nc4es-pico-balloon-information-page/ and on his
EHPC Facebook page.
PAMLICO EMERGENCY/COMMUNICATIONS NET
Wayne, K04OJC, reported 13 WinLink check-ins and 18 net check-ins for
the Pamlico Emergency/Communications Net last Wednesday, April 16th.
Eight stayed for the DMR gathering on the Arapahoe repeater. Plan to QSY
as directed again this Wednesday.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be low today through Wednesday with a chance
for M-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 156,
last Sunday’s was 156. The index is predicted to measure 150 today, 145
Tuesday and 140 on Wednesday. The much more important SFI 90 day
trailing average was 171 yesterday. It was 174 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. The SWPC expects the field to
be quiet to active today, quiet to unsettled Tuesday and back to quiet
on Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was 0.67
indicating quiet conditions.
For the next several days look for poor conditions during the day on 80
to 40, good at night; good day and night on 30 to 15; and good day, poor
at night on 12 and 10M. No real change. It’s still best on 15 and 17. Go
to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD017 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–THE GAMBIA, C5. Operators YT3PL, YU5R and F5RAV are QRV as C5R, with
F5RAV also active as C5LT, from Kololi from to May 2. Activity is on the
HF bands and 6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4, and on various
Satellites.
–AUSTRAL ISLANDS, FO. A group of operators are QRV as TX9A from Tubuai,
IOTA OC-152, until May 7. Activity is on the HF bands using CW, SSB,
FT8, and FT4.
–OGASAWARA, JD1. Mitsu, JE1HXZ is QRV as JD1BPG from Hahajima Island,
IOTA AS-031, until May 5. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB,
FT8, and FT4.
–PRINCE EDWARD AND MARION ISLANDS, ZS8. Yuris, YL2GM is QRV as ZS8W
from Marion Island to May 16 while on work assignment. Activity will be
in his spare time on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. This one
will be tough to log–one man operation part time and #11 on most wanted
list. Good luck.
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 if your listing is no longer needed. Listings
will EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS unless I hear otherwise. Thanks, Jim.
–NEW FOR SALE: Astron VS-50M 50-amp power supply. Like new condition
with original box and paperwork. Only defect is that the voltmeter
backlight quit working (common problem with Astron). I was going to
install the LED upgrade, which is included for both meters, but don’t
have the motivation since I no longer need a 50-amp power supply. This
item currently sells for over $500. First $375 takes. Mike, AB1OU,
203-981-0215. (20250428)
–FOR SALE: SB 200 Amplifier by Heathkit. In very good working order
with two extra brand new tubes. Reliable 500-600 watts and can be pushed
for more. $400. Charlie WA4GSI, 919 210-5168. (20250310)
PARS CALENDAR:
* DATE CHANGED TO May 10, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM (PCT) 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
* May 31, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. 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 (147.210MHz+ CTCSS 88.5Hz) — Operational
N4ONC (old KR4LO) UHF FM Oriental — Down for repair/replacement.
NC4ES VHF DMR Arapahoe (NC4ES Network) (147.285MHz+ CC1) — Operational
NC4ES VHF FM Arapahoe (147.285MHz+CTCSS ENC 88.5Hz/DEC 100Hz)–Standby
NC4ES UHF DMR (NC4ES Network) 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 for 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 WEBSITE: https://www.n4prs.org/
Our Web Master is Paul Jodoin, K4MMB, PARSwebman@gmail.com
73, Jim AI4WL Editor
——–
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