PAMLICO AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (PARS) July 25, 2026 MEETING NOTES
* Twenty-four 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. No change
from last month.
* AI4WL’s PROPAGATION Report: Spaceweather.com reports “the Sun is flat
lining”. With only 6 limp sunspot regions, perhaps activity is slowing a
bit. We’ve noted far fewer reports of distant DX, such as Indonesia,
Singapore, Thailand. However, the Magic 6 Meter band has come back with
a bang, most notably since the June Field Day. This 6M summer season is
bringing frequent daily openings into Europe, E-layer skip crossing the
Mississippi line to the other coast, and TEP into Central and South
America. Often the screen is full of FT8 streams and it’s difficult to
find an open spot with maybe 40 QSOs going at once. Dick, K4JJW reported
working 21 Japanese stations in about an hour one evening last week just
after 10pm local, Jim AI4WL, finally after years of trying, confirmed
Washington and Delaware completing all of the lower 48. Ant N1IG has
been racking up the Europeans. We recommended giving 6 a try–even a HF
OCF can do the trick. [The action is on FT-8 and CW, unfortunately few
voice stations are on nowadays. -ed.]
* PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS/EMERGENCY NET. Mike K4NLC, our net manager,
reminded all that the PCN is a training net with a goal of gaining more
qualified net controllers. He reported we now have 12-14 qualified
controllers and the number is growing. Buck AA4SN will pick up the net
for August. Mike thanked Louise Beasley KR4CYB for doing an excellent
job this month.
Mike advised, given intermittent noise on the Oriental Repeater, we
should be prepared to switch to the “390” KO4OJC FM/C4FM YSF repeater,
if and when the Oriental repeater’s unusable. Expect a call to QSY from
Oriental to the KO4OJC repeater during the PCN soon.
John Clay, KR4LEW, was recognized as likely having the long distance
record using EchoLink to check-in to the net. He last did it from
Amsterdam, NL while on a European cruise. [To check into the net maybe,
but then Bill WM3X reminded us that he got on the repeater from Italy…
Do we have a challenge going? What about Croatia? -ed]
The search for a viable back-up to the Oriental repeater complex
continues. Arapahoe is dedicated to the NC4ES network. Increased
practice with simplex was suggested–develop circles of connectivity.
* The next AUXCOM/PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM meeting is scheduled for
August 1st. The PCT started with an emphasis on EMCOMM and altho
activity has been wide ranging, EMCOMM remains the primary PCT focus.
Work continues on a new PACE plan and a recent meeting with the Pamlico
County Emergency Manager was very positive.
* Paul K4MMB reported visitors to the WEBSITE monthly average is around
400. He again asked for photos of ham activities, pets, stamps, whatever
is of interest. [Do check out the What’s Happening pages and the Editors
Page. -ed]
* The “annual” National Weather Service Hurricane awareness briefing
for Oriental newcomers (and old timers too) will be at 6pm, Monday
August 17th. Bruce will talk about GMRS followed by a demo.
* An Oriental Repeater Group Meeting will follow this meeting. It is
open to all.
* Our next PARS meeting will be on Saturday, August 29th.
* Drawing winners: Gordon Allison W7VJM from Beautiful Downtown
Arapahoe had the ticket for the Brantleys Gift Certificate, Ken WB2AII
took home a Yaesu baseball cap, Brian PARS beverage coasters crafted by
Rick NN2S.
* There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10am.
NET NEWS
On July 20th eight folks participated in the Monday night Pamlico C4FM
Net round-table hosted by KO4OJC (KR4LO, KR4ABZ, K4NLC, AI4WL, KM4PA
from Brevard, K4HPS from Martinsburg, and AC2GR). After having another
day of thunderstorms, the talk was all about lightning and equipment
protection. 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, July 22nd, we
recorded 15 WinLink and 18 voice check-ins. Louise KR4CYB was the
net-controller. EchoLink check-ins included Ralph, AC2GR, Pete AG7C from
New Jersey, Bill K2TNO Greensboro, and Paul KM4PA from Brevard. With the
GMRS repeater returned to service, members were asked to respond to a
call on that repeater. The no-notice test resulted in 5 stations
responding. All of those responding reported station 19 as loud and clear.
Only three folks checked-in to the DownEast/Pamlico 6 Meter net on July
23rd (K4ONC, AI4WL and N1IG). After yet another day of thunder storms,
weather was again the topic during a very short net.
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 low today through Wednesday with a chance
for M-class flares and a slight chance for a X-class flare.
There were 6 numbered sunspot regions on the Sun facing Earth yesterday
at noon. There were 3 last Sunday.
Sunday’s noon Solar Flux Index (SFI) observation at Penticton was 148,
last Sunday’s was 119. The index is predicted to measure 150 today and
Tuesday; Wednesday to drop to 145. The SFI 90 day trailing average was
133 yesterday. It was 132 last Sunday.
The geomagnetic field was quiet yesterday. The SWPC expects the field to
be unsettled to active today, quiet to active Tuesday, then quiet to
unsettled on Wednesday. The planetary K-index at 5 a.m. this morning was
1.33 indicating quiet conditions.
Current conditions (1229Z/27July26): Fair 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. 6M ES open to Europe. Please go to
https://www.n4prs.org/looking-
DX THIS WEEK–
Extracted from ARRL’s ARLD029 DX NEWS and DXWorld.net:
–9Y, TRINIDAD. Ishmael, 8P6PE, operates as 9Y4/8P6PE from July 25
through August 9. Activity is on 80 through 10 meters from POTA
locations using HF.
–E5, SOUTH COOK ISLANDS. ZL2KE is QRV as E51KEE through August 14,
mainly on CW and SSB, using 30 and 40 meters.
–VP0/H, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS. HF0PAS is QRV through October 31 from
IOTA AN-010. Activity is on HF using CW, SSB, and digital modes.
–VK9W, WILLIS ISLAND. Sands, VK4WXW, is QRV as VK9WX through late
October. Activity is on 40 through 10 meters, SSB and FT8.
–AlSO look for VP5 Turks & Caicos, 3B9 Rodriques Isl and TY5 Benin. 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.
* For Sale: Solid copper ground and bonding bar, 4″ X 10″ X 1/4″, with 2
high voltage stand-off insulators. It has 3 rows of 7 holes each for
attaching ground wires, $75. For comparison check out DX Engineering for
a similar but smaller item, part no. ERO-EGBA14210JF. Bill Michne, WM3X,
252-671-6703, call or text.(20260720)
* AVAILABLE-MAKE AN OFFER, MAKE IT TO GO AWAY:
Motorola Mobile radios – VHF & UHF
CDM-125o, 1550, M1225
Motorola Repeater (2)CDR 750 VHF & UHF
Multiple 2m ,70cm and HF mobile antennas
CAT 5 patch cables various lengths
Cat 5 Cable rolls
Contact Bob WA2FIS, wa2fis@att.net (20260615)
PARS CALENDAR:
* Aug 1, PAMLICO COMMUNICATIONS TEAM (PCT) MEETING, Saturday, 9-10:30am.
For more info, contact Bruce Perkins, K4ONC, 252-626-2730 or K4ONC@aol.com
* Aug 29, 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. ID will change to N4ONC soon.
N4ONC UHF FM Oriental (444.350MHz+ ENC 85.4Hz) — Standby
GMRS Repeater WSFL439 Oriental (Ch 21, Rptr 7 or 462.700MHz+) — Operational
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 ENC 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 KO4OJC 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
——–
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