PARS FOX HUNT AND PARS PICNIC
Nine teams, some with 4 members some with two, and one with one,
searched for the two foxes last Saturday morning. Three found the first
and the same three teams found the second one. (You had to find the
first to get the frequency for the second.) The rest got lost somewhere
in or around the greater Oriental metropolis. The foxes had their lair
not far from the Station 19 hound pen, but sneaky Bill (KR4LO) hid them
well in plain sight. So which team was the quickest to find the foxes?
The team of Matt and JJ, released last from the pen, was the quickest to
find the two foxes–31 minutes. The Beasley team with the help of
neighbor Michele did it in 44 minutes, Pat N1ZLE and Brian N2PZG–93
minutes.
Matt McMahon WU2V graciously declined any award. At the ceremony he
thanked PARS for allowing his team to participate. Our Fox Hunts offer a
scarce and needed opportunity to set up and practice using the Eastern
Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (EHPC) Kraken radio-geolocation
equipment. Combined with a mapping feature, it is designed to pin point
a weak signal from someone seeking help. It took them only 13 minutes to
find the first fox. It took a little longer to find the second without
the Kraken.
We didn’t count the numbers at the picnic, maybe thirty or so. If you
missed it, so sorry. Chef Mike did a great job with the hamburgers, the
sides and desserts were delicious and plentiful, and the socializing
very social. There were also a couple of portable–QRP of
course–stations operating over by the soccer field if you felt the urge
to make a contact with Belize. The temperature was warm, the clouds
scattered, a light breeze and happily, no rain. A really perfect day
for a picnic in the park. (Anyone for a do-over on Field Day?)
Thanks go to everyone involved, Bruce K4ONC chief organizer, hound
releaser, and #2fox; Bill KR4LO, THE FOX MAN, who assembled the
equipment, set the course and made sure the first fox wouldn’t escape;
of course Mike K4NLC, our chief chef assisted by Ray KR4ABZ who also
repaired the fire department’s grill, and other members who lended a hand.
PCT MEETING THIS COMING SATURDAY
The next monthly meeting of the Pamlico Communications Team will be this
coming Saturday, June 6th. Expect Bruce K4ONC to give a recap of the
recent Fox Hunt, review recent repeater group activity, talk about the
forthcoming EHPC communications exercise, and lead a discussion on
hurricane plans AND more from the floor. All are welcome to
participate–9 am at the Oriental VFD Station 19 on Straight Road.
NET NEWS
Monday night Pamlico C4FM Net on May 25th. Eight folks participated on
the round-table hosted by KO4OJC (AC2GR, KR4LO, KR4ABZ, KM4PA, AI4WL,
KR4CYB and KQ4KGX). For local users via RF the repeater’s on 145.390MHz.
Remote users can join via the Wires-X room–for now it’s still
“KO4OJC-Room 3” (ID 64163).
For the Communications/Emergency Net last Wednesday, May 27th, we
recorded 19 WinLink and 21 voice check-ins. Two of the voice were by
EchoLink (Bill K2TNO and Bill K2ONN). This time Ray asked us about our
radio plans for this summer. Most planned antenna projects–repair,
replace or put up new.
Six folks were on the DownEast/Pamlico Six Meter net on Thursday hosted
by WA4GSI (N1IG, KO4OJC, KR4ABZ, AI4WL and a very weak KM4PA from the
beach). Unlike the previous Thursday, conditions were not good so the
net was brief. Use any antenna that will resonate and join us if you
can, Thursdays at 8pm on 50.200 MHz USB. BTW, we’re using horizontal
polarization.
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 and Tuesday with a chance for
M-class flares, low with a slight chance of M-class flares on Wednesday.
There were 8 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth yesterday
at noon. There were 6 last Sunday.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 136,
last Sunday’s was 133. The index is predicted to measure 136 today, 134
Tuesday and 130 on Wednesday. The SFI 90 day trailing average was 125
yesterday. It was 125 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active yesterday. The SWPC expects
the field to be quiet to active today and Wednesday, quiet to unsettled
Tuesday. The planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was 1.67
indicating quiet conditions.
Current conditions (1104Z/01June26): Fair day on 80 and 40 Meters, good
at night; good day and night on 30 & 20; good day and night 17 & 15;
fair day, poor at night on 12 and 10. Please go to
https://www.n4prs.org/looking-
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD021 DX NEWS and DXWorld.net:
–NAURU, C2. Station C21TS is scheduled for a long-term presence,
remaining active until June 30.
–JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS, CE0Z. Station 3G0Z is active from IOTA SA-005
until June 8. Recent operations have been logged on 10 and 12 meters SSB
and digital modes.
–SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS, VP0/H. Rafal Mazur, SQ4O, is active as HF0PAS
from the Polish Antarctic Station Arctowski on King George Island until
October. He has installed directional Yagi antennas for 20, 15, 10, and
6 meters, with future goals of stringing up a wire dipole for 80 and 40
meters.
–AlSO look for Chatham Isl ZL7IO, Juan Fernandez 3G0Z, Lord Howe Isl
VJ2L, Macao XX9TXN and more. For the details, see www.DXWorld.net.
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.
NEW LISTING – FOR SALE: Trilithic 860 DSPi 1GHz RF Spectrum Analyzer,
Cable Analyzer, FM Deviation Meter, and much more – too much to list so
I will email a full description to anyone interested. This equipment was
originally designed for professional certified installation of cable TV
systems but has far more application – it is the “Swiss Army Knife” of
field analyzers. Lots of accessories. All items are in excellent used
condition and fully functional.
I never thought I would sell this gizmo, but alas, times change and I am
downsizing my equipment inventory (so I am not interested in any
trades). First $200 takes. Mike Grant, AB1OU, at mgrant291@att.net
(20260601)
FOR SALE: Six meter beam, $50, WA4GSI Charlie Overcash, 919-210-5168
(20260525)
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/squ
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)
PARS CALENDAR:
* 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
* Jun 27, PARS MONTHLY MEETING, Saturday, 9am, Brantley’s Village
Restaurant, Oriental. 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
KO4OJC VHF FM/C4FM-YSF/Wires-x Oriental (145.390MHz- FM CTCSS 100.0Hz)
— Operational. Call will change to N4ONC soon.
N4ONC UHF FM Oriental (444.350MHz+ ENC 85.4Hz) — 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-YSF/WIRES-X (145.270MHz- FM CTCSS 131.8) —
Off-Air
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
(145.390MHz). 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-director
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
especially photos of member activities.
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.