PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) April 25, 2026 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-five 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. ORG
expenditures were for the Lupton equipment at the Kershaw tower, PARS’s
included gift certificates for the FOX hunt and other activities. Big
expenditures coming up for the ORG — replace the Kershaw building roof,
upgrade the solar power system, and an antenna climb. The ORG is now the
only occupant of the building.
* AI4WL’s PROPAGATION Report: The past few days were active with high
level solar activity, the next few will have moderate activity. X-class
flares produced HF radio blackouts over Australia and the Persian Gulf
yesterday, more are expected. Even as the cycle heads downward, DX
activities abound. They include Rodriques Island, Timor-Leste, Comoros,
Marquesas Islands, and Norfolk Island. Some members reported trying out
the W1VE Reverse Beacon propagation tool [see last week’s PARSgram],
others are finding good success using DX Summit paired with PSKReporter.
* Our PARSgram EMAIL LIST is BEING UPDATED. The weekly “newsletter” has
been a member benefit for nearly 20 years. Over time, the number of our
non-member friends that get the email has grown to nearly three times
our membership. Many of those receiving it were visitors at our meetings
and actual readership is unknown. Maintenance of the list was becoming
cumbersome. In order to reduce the list to those that actually want it,
we have started sending an email to our friends requesting a response to
continue. The PARSgram will always be a “click away” on our web site for
those that don’t. So far, the response rate is about 15 percent, not
unexpected.
* Bruce thanked Hank, the wizard (KW1ZRD), for doing an excellent job
as net control on the PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS NET during May. For his
last session THIS coming WEDNESDAY Hank asks for WinLink check-ins via
HF, voice check-ins via backup radio. Hank was the first tasked to
respond to an-hoc requirement as the NCS. More to come as our training
expands. [Ray KR4ABZ will take the net in May, Mike AB1OU has it for
June.–ed]
* The next AUXCOM/PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM meeting will be on
Saturday May 2nd.
* Paul K4MMB reported 886 visitors to the WEBSITE during the past 30
days, 6,674 for the year, 2401 are return visitors. Lots of probes,
BOTS. Most were from Singapore and blocked by the software. The repeater
page, What’s Happening, and PARSgram pages are the most visited. Send
Paul your Ham PHOTOS and PARS related “trip reports”!
* May 9-10th, the EHPC will be at the CHERRY POINT AIR SHOW. Next year
the EHPC MedEvac tent and comms set up will be at Seymour Johnson AFB in
Goldsboro and easier to visit.
* EHPC COMMEX is on June 25th. All are welcome to participate in this
statewide exercise. For hams, it will be mostly WinLink related. Sign up
on TERMS https://terms.ncem.gov/TRS/
* The PARS Spring FOX HUNT and Picnic/POT LUCK Social is coming up on
Saturday May 30th. There will be NO REGULAR PARS MEETING in May. Hounds
should meet at Station 19, Oriental VFD, at 0830. The hunt will be in
two stages, VHF to the first fox followed by UHF to the second with
prizes for each. The second will be within walking distance from the
first. Family, friends, POTA-ers can gather in the Oriental Rec Park
(next to the Dog Park) whenever, eat when the hounds get back–maybe
1230-ish. Stay to socialize. All area hams are welcome. PARS provides
hamburgers and fixins. More info to come.
* Bruce reported that just after our March meeting, the ORG purchased
the Lupton Electronics repeater and other remaining assets at the
Kershaw tower site. [Details reported in PARSgram 2026-04-06-ed.] The
Lupton antenna is at 360ft and is now connected to the N4ONC FM/C4FM YSF
repeater. The Lupton Kenwood repeater was retuned to replace the
original Oriental (W4SLH) Kenwood. Our excellent relationship with
American Tower remains unchanged.
* Expect a change in the N4ONC YSF (was Wayne’s World) frequency pairs.
It has been requested and awaiting SERA action. The PL (CTCSS) tones
have already been changed to 100Hz to avoid possible conflict with
another repeater.
* For SHOW ‘N TELL, Buck, AA4SN, brought in his homemade and just
beautiful CW key. Amazing what he did without special tools. Mike,
AB1OU, reviewed his new Hiradio Y23-UV-98Plus “DC to Daylight” almost
all mode HF to high UHF with APRS/GPS 10w Handheld. [That’s a
mouthful-ed] An amazing array of features and capabilities for around
$80 from Amazon.
* Drawing winners: John KR4LEW and Charlie KO4YPM, each took home a
wine glass laser printed with the PARS logo by Rick, NN2S. Hank KW1ZRD
had the ticket for the Brantleys Gift Certificate. [Lucky him! He earned
it.-ed.]
* There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30am.
NET NEWS
Hank, KW1ZRD, reported 15 WinLink and 14 voice check-ins to the Pamlico
Communications/Emergency Net last Wednesday, April 22nd. Paul KM4PA
joined via EchoLink from Brevard. FOR WEDNESDAY, the 29th, Hank requests
WinLink check-ins to be via HF if possible. For the voice portion, he
requests that we check in using the emergency/backup radio that we would
use if our regular system (radio, power, antenna) was not available.
Monday night C4FM Net. Five folks participated in the net on Monday the
20th hosted by KO4OJC (KM4PA, KR4LO, KR4ABZ and AI4WL). Lot’s of talk
about C4FM repeaters and Wires-x. For local users via RF it’s on
146.310MHz. Now with Wires-X operational on the relocated repeater,
remote users can join via Wires-X room “KO4OJC-Room 3” (ID 64163). Note:
There’s also a C4FM net Saturdays at 7:30pm sponsored by the NCVA Fusion
Network on the KE4TZN Aurora repeater. It’s also reachable via Wires-X
room “Eastern-NC”. At least four linked repeaters are brought up for
this net. For more see https://www.ncvafusion.org.
Only four participated in the DownEast/Pamlico Six Meter roundtable on
Thursday the 23rd (N1IG, KO4OJC, KR4OYC and AI4WL). All signals were
strong. Use any antenna that will resonate and join us if you can,
Thursdays at 8pm on 50.200 MHz USB.
SOLAR NUMBERS TODAY
NOAA reported 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 be moderate today, Tuesday, and Wednesday with
a slight chance for X-class flares. Radio blackouts reaching the R2
level are likely.
There were 7 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth yesterday
at noon. There were 2 last Sunday.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 156,
last Sunday’s was 105. The index is predicted to measure 155 today, 150
Tuesday and 150 on Wednesday. The more important SFI 90 day trailing
average was 129 yesterday. It was 132 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to be quiet to active today, quiet Tuesday, then quiet to
unsettled on Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was
1.00 indicating quiet conditions.
Current conditions (1114Z/27 Apr): Poor 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 ARLD016 DX NEWS and DXWorld.net:
–TIMOR-LESTE, 4W. Christian, EA2TA, along with EA3NT and IZ7ATN, are
QRV as 4W/EA2TA, 4W/EA3NT, and 4W/IZ7ATN from Timor Island, IOTA OC-148,
until April 28. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8.
–LESOTHO, 7P. Paolo, IZ0EVI, Diego, IZ0EWJ, and Luca, IZ6DSQ, will be
QRV as 7P8WR until May 1. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using SSB, FT4,
and FT8.
–MARQUESAS ISLANDS, FO. The TX9W team is currently QRV from Hiva Oa,
IOTA OC-027, until April 30. Despite technical logging challenges, they
remain active on 30, 20, 15, and 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8.
–OGASAWARA, JD. Harry, JG7PSJ, will be QRV as JD1BMH from Chichijima,
IOTA AS-031, until May 4. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB,
and RTTY.
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: I have a SquareSDR v1 for sale. This is the original version,
not the v2 which was released last month and costs almost $600 (when
available). The Square SDR (https://www.wideservis.cz/square-sdr/) is an
upgraded design of the Hermes Lite 2 using better components and with
the N2ADR filter board built in, eliminating a common failure point of
the original HL2. Runs Thetis and multiple slices on older PCs no
problem. Software sees it as identical to the HL2.
I’m the original owner of this radio, and it has worked extremely well
the entire time. This is an incredible little radio with an unbelievable
price to performance ratio. $400 for PARS members. You can see this
radio on my QRZ page at https://www.qrz.com/db/N1IG. Ant Crook N1IG, at
N1IG@proton.me or 240-575-3700 (20260427)
FOR SALE: Yaesu SP-2000 external speaker with protective cover. Perfect
condition. $100.00. Sam/Dave Bacon at davebacon1943@gmail.com. (20260302)
PARS CALENDAR:
* May 2, 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 30, SPRING FOX HUNT and Picnic, Oriental VFD Station 19/Oriental
Dog Park. Straight Road, Oriental. Alternate date, June 6.
* Jun 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
SELECTED LOCAL REPEATER/NODE/BEACON STATUS
(See www.n4prs.org/frequencies/ for set-up)
N4ONC VHF FM Oriental (147.210MHz+ CTCSS 88.5Hz) — Operational
N4ONC FM/C4FM-YSF/Wires-x Oriental (146.310MHz- FM CTCSS 100.0Hz) —
Operational.
N4ONC UHF FM Oriental (444.350MHz+ ENC 88.4Hz) — Operational
GMRS Repeater WSFL439 Oriental (Ch 21, Rptr 7 or 462.700MHz+) — Standby
NC4ES DMR Arapahoe (NC4ES Network)(147.285MHz+ CC1) — Operational
NC4ES FM Arapahoe (147.285MHz+ 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
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 N4ONC Oriental FM/C4FM/WIRES-X repeater
(146.310MHz). Those outside RF range may join via Wires-X room
“KO4OJC-Room 3″ (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 as the “Pamlico Emergency Net”
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. You can find
archived PARSgrams, articles, meeting notes, propagation information,
and photos of PARS activities there. Paul welcomes articles and photos
of member activities.
73, Jim AI4WL Editor
——–
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