PARS HOLIDAY BREAKFAST MEETING AND “GIFT” EXCHANGE THIS SATURDAY
ON DEC 20TH. BRANTLEY’S WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS
For our final gathering of the year the business agenda will be short.
The “program” that follows will be our annual exchange of small gifts.
These presents should be related to ham radio in some way, but please,
no cans of ham. Put your imagination to work. Check out your junk box,
look around your shack for stuff that works but you no longer need. Make
something. See what you can find, then wrap it and bring it to the
meeting. If you buy something, please don’t spend much more than 15-20
bucks or so. Exchange your gift for a number. After your number is
called, go through the pile of gifts and pick one. If you already have a
widget like the one you unwrapped, swap it for something else. It’s fun!
See you at the meeting on Saturday, December 20th at 9 am in the back
room of Brantley’s Village Restaurant in Oriental. And if you forget a
“gift”, not to worry, come anyway, eat, be merry and enjoy
the show.
PAMLICO EMERGENCY/COMMUNICATIONS NET
There were 17 WinLink check-ins and 21 voice check-ins for the Pamlico
Emergency/Communications Net last Wednesday, December 10th. Of the 21
voice check-ins four were via EchoLink (AG7C Washington NJ, Paul KO4MHM
Brevard, K2ONN Bermuda Run and K2TNO Greensboro).
After check-in, members were requested to SWITCH TO FM SIMPLEX on 146.55
MHz and listen for a call from Bruce at Station 19 in Oriental. Ten
members responded, most loud and clear. After turning off the squelch
Mike K4NLC was heard and able to check in. Mike is probably the most
distant at 19.3 miles away, just over the county line in Craven. Mike
will call the net again this coming Wednesday.
BIT BUCKET………..
— UPDATE: Mark K1MAP turned on three BEACONS located at his place out
on Cedar Island before he headed south: 144.282MHz w4fws, 222.055 k1map,
and 432.305 k1map. If you can hear any of them please let Mark know at
map92map@gmail.com, text or call at (413)222-9292. THIS IS A CORRECTED
CELL NUMBER. HIS OLD ONE IS DEAD.
— REMINDER: YOUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL INFORMATION IS IN THE MAIL.
Wally mailed our renewal forms early last week. They were revised so
please complete them and return them with your dues as soon as you can.
— THAT NEW NET FOR C4FM provides a meeting place–a discussion
round-table–for local users via RF (146.310MHz) and remote users via
Wires-X room “KO4OJC-Room 3” (DTMF ID 64163). SIX (KR4LO, KO4OJC, AI4WL,
K1AUG, KR4ABZ, and WM3X) WERE THERE LAST MONDAY for the first chat. Join
us when you can.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reports that solar activity was low during the 24 hour period
ending yesterday at 4 p.m. local. The Space Weather Prediction Center
expects solar activity to be low with a chance for M-class flares today,
Tuesday and Wednesday.
There are 5 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth this
morning. There were 7 last Monday, 6 the Monday before.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 119,
last Sunday’s was 194. The index is predicted to measure 120 today, 120
Tuesday and 120 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing
average was 151 yesterday. It was 148 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field be quiet to unsettled today through Wednesday. The planetary
K-index at 7 a.m. this morning was 1.33 indicating quiet conditions.
Current conditions: Fair during the day on 80 and 40 Meters, good at
night; good day and night on 30 & 20; fair day and night 17 & 15; fair
day, poor at night on 12 and 10. As always, we recommend you go to
https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD050 DX news and DXWorld.net:
–MADAGASCAR, 5R. Eric, F6ICX, is QRV as 5R8IC from Sainte-Marie
Island, IOTA AF-090, until the end of December. Activity is on the HF
bands using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4, and on Satellite QO-100.
–THE GAMBIA, C5. Andre, ON7YK, is QRV as C5YK from Kotu until January
25, 2026. Activity is on 20 through 10 meters using SSB, RTTY, FT8, FT4,
and some CW. QSL via LoTW.
–CENTRAL AFRICA, TL. Joao, CR7BNW, is QRV as TL8BNW until June 2026.
Activity is on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via LoTW.
–PALAU, T8. Koh, JA1ADT is active from Palau as T88AC to December 17,
2025. Focus is on the low bands.
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 60 DAYS unless I hear otherwise. Thanks, Jim.
FOR SALE: SWR/wattmeters: MFJ-868 Giant SWR/Wattmeter, 20/200/2,000
watt ranges, 1.8 – 30 MHz, $150. Mirage MP2 VHF SWR/wattmeter,
50/500/1500 watt ranges, 50 – 200 MHz, $125. Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-671-6703, drmichne73@gmail.com. (20251208)
UPDATED FOR SALE: Since our HOA does not allow outside antennas, no need
to hang on to the following coax cable:
1. Davis RG213, 140 feet, used but like new (was fully enclosed in PVC
conduit), $100 (71 cents/ft).
2. SOLD Davis RG213, 108 feet
3. SOLD Davis RG213, 70 feet
4. RG213 part # 59912 (no brand name but used outdoors for years with no
issues), 52 feet, new, $30 (58 cents/ft)
RG213 is very reliable due to rugged construction. The solid PE
(polyethylene) dielectric does not retain moisture and resists kinking
at bends. I used nothing but RG213 for over 10 years in CT for HF, VHF
and UHF with no problems. Mike Grant, AB1OU, email mgrant291@att.net or
203-981-0215. (20251208)(20251215)
FOR SALE (reduced price) Husky generator, 5000 watt, 6250 watt starting,
with Subaru engine. Always used non-ethanol gas, & stored inside. With
manual. $200. Al Parker, W8UT, New Bern, email anchor@ec.rr.com
(20251117)(20250922)
FOR SALE: Like brand new IC-7300 with side rails in original box and all
documents. Special pricing for PARS members, only $750. Photos on
request. Dennis Had, W4USR, email w4usr@att.net or 919-345-2223 (20251013)
FOR SALE: Yaesu FT 450D . With spare parts radio . Mobile bracket
included. Works great. $450.00 WB2AII, Ken Boniface (252)658-1012 (20251006)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Dec 20, PARS MONTHLY MEETING and Holiday Gift Exchange, Saturday, 9am,
Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Oriental. NOTE CHANGE DUE TO BRANTLEY’S
HOLIDAY VACATION. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Jan 3, 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
* Jan 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 FM Oriental (147.210MHz+ CTCSS 88.5Hz) — Operational
GMRS Repeater Oriental (Ch 21, Rptr 7 or 462.700MHz+) — Operational
NC4ES DMR Arapahoe (NC4ES Network)(147.285MHz+ CC1) — Operational
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 smplx) — Operational
KO40JC FM/C4FM/WIRES-X Baird Creek (146.310MHz- CTCSS 131.8) — Operational.
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* NEW…NEW… Mondays, “Wayne’s World C4FM Net”, 7:30 pm local, using
the C4FM digital mode on the KO40JC FM/C4FM/WIRES-X repeater, Baird
Creek (146.310MHz). Those outside RF range may join via Wires-X room
“KO4OJC-Room 3″ (DTMF ID 64163). This is a round-table open to all.
Discussions range with member interest although 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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