PAMLICO EMERGENCY/COMMUNICATIONS NET
Hank, KW1ZRD, reported 21 WinLink check-ins and 22 net check-ins for the
Pamlico Emergency/Communications Net last Wednesday, May 14th. Listen
for Hank again on Wednesday. If you do DMR and the PCN doesn’t run too
long, we might switch over to the Arapahoe NC4ES repeater local talk
group after the regular net closes.
SO WHERE ARE THEY NOW? THE GREAT EASTERN BALLOON ‘ROUND-ABOUT CONTINUES
They are on completely different tracks eastward around the globe,
neither traveling fast.
The Greenville pico balloon, NC4ES, at 0438 EDT this morning May 19th
and still on her 7th lap, is not making much progress. After making a
circle in northern Siberia at less than 10 mph she was drifting north
toward dreary Bolshevik Island.
The Pamlico balloon, N4PRS, at 0408 EDT on her 9th lap, is taking a much
more southern route at about 30 mph. Her most recent report has her
stalled over Sudan’s much troubled South Darfur State.
We’ll keep watching for their reports on Traquito and listening on 20
meters for their WSPR signals when they are near enough. You can get the
links for tracking the balloons at:
https://easternhpc.com/nc4es-pico-balloon-information-page/ Scroll to
the bottom for some photos. Even more background is at
https://www.n4prs.org/eastern-express/
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 again today through Wednesday with a
25% chance for M-class flares each day.
There are 4 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 6 last Monday, 5 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 118,
last Sunday’s was 126. The index is predicted to measure 120 today, 118
Tuesday and 118 on Wednesday. The much more important SFI 90 day
trailing average was 161 yesterday. It was 165 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field reached minor storm levels yesterday. The SWPC
expects the field to be quiet but then reach minor storm levels (G1)
again today and then quiet to active on Tuesday and Wednesday. Solar
wind from a large coronal hole is the cause. The planetary K-index at 5
a.m. this morning was 1.67 indicating quiet conditions then.
Look for poor conditions during the day on 80 to 40, fair at night; only
fair day and night on 30 to 15; and poor day, poor at night on 12 and
10M. Go to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD019 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–FALKLAND ISLANDS, VP8. Gerry, G3WIP is QRV as VP8DPD from Port
Stanley, IOTA SA-002, until July 12. Activity is mostly on 20 to 10 meters.
–LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS, VU7. A group of operators will be QRV as VU7T
from Agatti Island, IOTA AS-011, from May 22 to 28. Activity will be on
the HF bands using CW, SSB, and FT8.
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: POTA/Field Day package, $550.00. Includes all the
accessory gear that you need for a high quality POTA/Field Day packaged
station. It’s a plug and play set-up. Just plug in your transceiver
(IC-7300 or similar) and you will be on the air in minutes with 100w,
all day long. Multi-band, 80-10m. New cost of components was $1200+,
package price is $550. Package includes:
1. Marine/RV deep cycle 27dc 180A battery in a portable battery box that
includes a digital amp meter and volt meter, and 4 Anderson Power Pole
outputs.
2. Battery Booster, MFJ-4416-C mounted on battery box. The booster is
electronically quiet and rated at 25 amps cont. It works great and will
keep the system output at a constant 13.8V even when the battery voltage
drops to 10.8v. Lots of capacity for full power, all day long.
3. Max Gain Systems, MK-4-HD heavy duty 25′ fiber glass push up mast,
4′ locking sections.
4. Drive on mount for the 25′ Max Gain mast.
5. ICOM AH-4 auto-tuner, 200w, 160-10m (on base of mast)
6. 50′ of pre-wired connecting power cable and RG-59 coax…all cables
needed to get on the air.
7. Inverted L antenna (on storage reel) reconfigurable, 54’/83′, #18
“silky” wire, 100′ 1/8″ Dacron rope.
Contact: Dick Goodwin, K4JJW, rdgjg1964@gmail.com 252-633-7873
Fairfield Harbour (20250519)
–FOR SALE: FOR SALE: Astron VS-50M 50-amp power supply. Like new
condition with original box and paperwork. LED upgrade installed for
both meters. 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)
–FREE: ICOM IC 700. Marine SSB, old, free, probably good for parts
only. Does not tx on 8. Glenn Sikes, KG4RYZ, New Bern, 305-744-8000
(20250519)
PARS CALENDAR:
* 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
* June 7, 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
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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