PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) March 28, 2026 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-eight members, visitors and guests attended the 9am Saturday
breakfast meeting at Brantley’s Village Restaurant chaired by President
Bruce Perkins, K4ONC.
* Bruce delivered the Treasurer’s report on behalf of Wally.
* AI4WL’s PROPAGATION Report: Even before the report, “Ant” N1IG, Dick
K4JJW and others indicated their view of propagation as good but could
be better. Ant had worked most wanted Bouvet as had Dick, Macau was
being heard but not worked, and newly active Sable Island easy. NOAA
SWPC has the forecast being for low activity for the next several days,
45% chance for M-class flares daily and possible short HF blackouts. Jim
reminded all that updated band conditions are to be found Paul’s
(https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/) PARS web site. Current DX
opportunities include Sable Island CY0, Bangladesh S21, and Macau XX9.
* Mike, K4NLC, our Pamlico Communications Net manager, reported the
Wednesday night net numbers continue to grow [see Net News below]. He
thanked Charlie KO4YPM for being net controller in March. Hank KW1ZRD
will call the net in April. Louise KR4CYB has updated the Wednesday
Night controller’s “script” incorporating member suggestions. Lor,
reminded all that the goal is to promote readiness and that controllers
should expect an “inject” or task to arrive via Winlink message. He also
demonstrated how to hold the microphone. Other advice for check-ins from
the members included to slow down, use the phonetic alphabet. Mike noted
that there is a shorter script for calling and managing the net during
emergencies. Mike again encouraged members to program their “emergency”
radios for both the simplex frequency [146.55MHz] and the backup Bairds
Creek repeater [146.310MHz- CTCSS 131.8Hz].
* Bruce reminded those members that hadn’t to please pay your dues. If
you didn’t get your dues letter, please let him know. We’re awaiting the
last few before updating our roster and meeting check-in list.
* The SPRING FOX HUNT and Picnic will be on the 30th of May and replace
our scheduled PARS meeting. Expect the hunters to meet at the Station 19
VFD at 0900 for a short briefing and release. The picnic will be at the
Oriental Recreation Park and playground. Nearby clubs will be invited to
participate at no cost. Donations will be accepted at the picnic. A 2
fox event is planned, find the first to find the second. Details are
still being worked. Prizes will include HRO $50 gift certificates and
Baofang HTs.
* Bruce reminded all of the PCT meeting next Saturday [Apr 4th]. A VE
session will follow.
* Charlie Overcash WA4GSI reported the passing of Don Smith, KJ4RB, —
“Rubber Boots”– earlier this week. Known to many, Don originated the
“Down East Six Meter Net” over 20 years ago. It soon had up to 30 or so
check-ins weekly from all over ENC. Although he was not a PARS member,
due to Don’s ill health we have kept it going over the past few years
awaiting his return.
* Bill Olah, KR4LO, advised he has his old 440 FM Repeater on the air
from his Baird Creek shop. For now it shares the Wayne’s world YSF
repeater antenna. [Operational details below.]
* Drawing winners: Ken Boniface WB2AII, took home the Brantleys Gift
Certificate; Garrett, picked a key chain; Augie, K1AUG a PARS coaster.
* There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:05am.
VE TESTING SESSION ON APRIL 4
A VE session will be conducted following the monthly Pamlico
Communications Team meeting. The test session will be held at 11am,
Saturday April 4, 2026 at the Oriental VFD Station 19 on Straight Rd
vic. NC-55. Anyone with a FRN may take an exam but to insure materials
are available he or should contact Bill Michne WM3X beforehand at
drmichne73@gmail.com or 252-249-1175.
NET NEWS
Charlie, KO4YWM, reported that there were 19 WinLink and 21 voice
check-ins to the Pamlico Communications/Emergency Net last Wednesday,
March 25th. AC2GR, N2PZG and K2TNO used EchoLink for their voice
check-in. Hank, KW1ZRD, will be the NCS for the PCN for the month of April.
Monday night C4FM Net. On March 23th, eight folks participated in the
weekly roundtable hosted by KO4OJC. For local users via RF it’s on
146.310MHz and remote users via Wires-X room “KO4OJC-Room 3” (ID 64163).
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported 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, Tuesday, and Wednesday. There is
a chance for M-class flares and a slight chance for X-class flares
through Wednesday. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are likely.
There were 9 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth yesterday
at noon. There were 7 last Sunday.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 158,
last Sunday’s was 120. The index is predicted to measure 155 today, 152
Tuesday and 155 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing
average was 139 yesterday. It was 141 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field reached active levels yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to reach minor storm levels today, be quiet to active Tuesday
and then be quiet on Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 8 a.m. this
morning was 3.0 indicating quiet conditions.
Current conditions (1138Z/30 Mar): Poor the day on 80 and 40 Meters,
good at night; good day and night on 30 & 20; good day and night 17 &
15; good day, poor at night on 12 and 10. Please go to
https://www.n4prs.org/looking-up/ for the latest observations.
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD012 DX NEWS and DXWorld.net:
–SABLE ISLAND, CY0. A group of operators is QRV as CY0S until March
31. Activity is on 160 through 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, FT4,
and EME on 23 centimeters. QSL via LoTW.
–Bangladesh, S2. Operators are QRV as S21WD on Dal Char Island, IOTA
AS-140, till March 31. Activity is on 160 through 10 meters using CW,
FT8 and SSB. QSL via DJ4MX.
–CENTRAL KIRIBATI, T3. Group of operators are QRV as T31TTT on Kanton
Island, IOTA OC-043, until April 8. Activity on is 160 through 6 meters
using CW, SSB, FT8, FT4. QSL via ClubLog.
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: Yaesu SP-2000 external speaker with protective cover. Perfect
condition. $100.00. Sam/Dave Bacon at davebacon1943@gmail.com. (20260302)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Apr 4, 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
* Apr 25, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC,
252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* May 30, SPRING FOX HUNT and Picnic, Oriental VFD Station 19/Oriental
Dog Park. Straight Road, Oriental. Alternate date, June 6.
SELECTED LOCAL REPEATER/NODE/BEACON 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- FM CTCSS 131.8) —
Operational.
KR4LO FM Baird Creek (444.350MHz+ ENC 88.4Hz) — Test
KE4TZN/Aurora FM/C4FM/WIRES-X (145.270MHz- FM CTCSS 131.8) —
Operational.
KE4TZN/Aurora DMR (PRN Network) (440.550MHz+ CC1) — Operational
Cedar Isl Mark’s Beacons: K4FWS/b FM14ux 144.282 CW; K1MAP/b FM14ux
222.055 CW; K1MAP/b FM14ux 432.305 CW (Very low power for rcvr,
propagation tests)
LOCAL NETS OF INTEREST TO PARS MEMBERS:
* 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 vary with member interest. 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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