PAMLICO EMERGENCY/COMMUNICATIONS NET
We counted 14 WinLink check-ins and 22 voice check-ins for the Pamlico
Emergency/Communications Net last Wednesday, August 6th. All but two of
the WinLink check-ins were by Situation Report. Most reported that
back-up power is available for station operation and ready–or soon will
be– for the Hurricane season. Voice check-ins indicated the same. Three
of the 22 voice check-ins were done via EchoLink (KO4MHM from Brevard
NC, K2ONN Bermuda Run NC, AA4SN near Fairfield Harbor). Visitor Joe,
KD8RTC, was a late check-in from his 38’Endeavor docked at Fairfield Harbor.
For this Wednesday, August 13th, please use the normal WinLink Net
Check-in form…
After regular net check-in, we will ask those that can do so to switch
to FM simplex on 146.55 MHz and listen for a call from Bill, KR4LO.
Simplex is a contingent mode on our current PACE
(Primary-Alternate-Contingent-Emergency) Plan. The objective is to
identify those who can communicate with KR4LO directly. For those who
can’t, for them to identify who they can hear as likely relay stations.
After the simplex test we will return to close the net on the Oriental
Repeater.
Reminder: the Oriental community meeting on GMRS is scheduled for 6:30pm
on Thursday, Aug 21st.
PARS ON FACEBOOK
There’s a new Pamlico Amateur Radio Society Facebook Page. It’s been
established to provide an easy and quick way for information exchange
between our members and with the local community. For more info contact
Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
SO WHERE IS SHE NOW? THE GREAT EASTERN BALLOON ‘ROUND-ABOUT CONTINUES
The Greenville Express, NC4ES, has finally decided to go straight, more
or less… at least for now. Last Monday, she was tracked drifting
west-southwest back into the Atlantic. It took her the next four days to
make a big rounding of the Canaries. She ended up well into Morocco
after passing over the coastline about 150 miles south of Casablanca. At
her wake-up Saturday morning she was just entering Algeria. We know that
because her tiny 20mW signal was heard and reported (-21dBm) by our own
KR4LO, 4,266 miles to the west on Baird Creek! That was at 0618 UTC,
0218am local. She then picked up speed, headed northeast, and by Sunday
morning was crossing the Croatian Coastline. She ended her day over
Bulgaria almost to the Black Sea. This morning she was floating
southeast over Turkey at 45mph pointed toward Iran.
Again, here’s that new tracking site that Lor, W3QA, told us about:
https://wsprtv.com [for “Ch” use “300”-ed]. It’s like Traquito and adds
a Google Earth view from the balloon.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was moderate during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 5 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to again be moderate through Wednesday with a
slight chance (10%) for an X-class flare each day, more than 50-50 for
M-class flares. Flares will not be a bother unless we are in bright
sunlight when they strike.
There are 11 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 7 last Monday, 10 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 153,
last Sunday’s was 146. The index is predicted to measure 155 today, 150
Tuesday and 145 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing
average was 135 yesterday. It was 134 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to be unsettled to active today, quiet to active on Tuesday
and Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was 3.33
indicating quiet conditions.
Look for poor conditions during the day on 80 to 40, fair at night; good
day and night on 30 to 15; and fair day, poor at night on 12 and 10M.
Six has been a bust. Go to https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the
latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD032 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–EAST MALAYSIA, 9M6. A large group of operators are QRV as 9M8A from
Satang Besar Island, IOTA OC-165, until August 13. Activity is on 80 to
6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4. QSL via LoTW.
–JAN MAYEN, JX. Peter, LB2OG is QRV as JX/LB2OG for another one to two
weeks. Activity is in his spare time mostly on 20 and 17 meters using
SSB and FT8, respectively. QSL via bureau.
–WAKE ISLAND, KH9. Jim, K9HEI is QRV as K9HEI/KH9 to 22 August.
Activity will be in his spare time on 40 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8.
QSL to home call. Note call sign change from earlier notices.
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.
–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)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Aug 21, Community GMRS Forum, Thursday, 6:30pm, Oriental Town Hall.
All are welcome. Bring your GMRS HT. For more info, contact Bruce
Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Aug 30, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Sep 6, 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 FM Oriental (147.210MHz+ CTCSS 88.5Hz) — Operational
N4ONC (old KR4LO) UHF FM Oriental — Down for repair/replacement
GMRS Repeater (Ch 21, Rptr 7 or 462.700MHz+) — Operational
NC4ES DMR Arapahoe (NC4ES Network)(147.285MHz+ CC1) — Down. Power issue
likely. Restoration soon.
NC4ES FM Arapahoe (147.285MHz+ CTCSS ENC 88.5Hz/DEC 100Hz) — Standby
NC4ES DMR Florence (NC4ES Network)(445.6625MHZ- CC1) — Operational
WM3X-ONC C4FM/WIRES-X NODE Oriental (145.530MHz splx) — Operational
KO4OJC FM/C4FM/WIRES-X Baird Creek (146.31MHz- CTCSS 131.8) — Test.
Signal/issue reports requested.
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
——–
This email is sent to members and friends of the Pamlico Amateur Radio
Society. We are pleased that you asked to receive our weekly newsletter
and hope that you enjoy reading it. This and previous PARSgrams are
archived on the PARS Website. If you no longer wish to receive the
PARSgram please let us know by reply email or to pamlicoham@pamlico.net.