N5VLZ  > ALL      01.04.25 02:15z 238 Lines 7120 Bytes #96 (0) @ WW
BID : 24328_NS2B
Subj: PCL NET SCRIBE MARCH 31 2025
Path: ED1ZAC<ED1ZAC<CX2SA<N3HYM<KE0GB<NS2B
Sent: 250401/0152Z 24328@NS2B.#WNY.NY.USA.NOAM BPQ6.0.24

PCL NET SCRIBE MAR 31 2025

N5VLZ, Daryl, Arkansas (Net Control/Scribe)
NS2B, Bob, New York (Sysop)
VA7RBP, Rick, Canada

**

No early checkins. Net order is Daryl, Bob (NY), 
Rick, and whoever else shows up.

Tuesday starts April (beware of April Fools Day
jokes, especially via ham radio), and a note
that the PCL will not meet on April 21, the day
after Easter.

**

N5VLZ:

We dodged the severe weather yesterday and
overnight, but we get to do it again from
Wednesday into Sunday, and this time, it'll
be adding the threat of more than a foot of 
rain. The rain will lower the fire danger, 
but it'll increase widespread flooding. Flood 
watches are already out from late Wednesday 
into Sunday morning. My lawn guy is coming in 
the morning; with the forecast weather pattern, 
he may not be able to mow again for awhile; 
with lightning and a soggy mud bog ground, more 
like a swamp.

I feel like a bear who just ate big before the
winter hibernation...eating out after the Post 
Office Box run, and just before the net. I am 
full as a tick now...I originally was going to 
eat donuts, but thought with type 2 diabetes, I 
didn't need the extra sugar. I didn't feel like 
cooking, was burned out on just peanut butter 
sandwiches, but my eyes were bigger than my 
stomach!!

I terminated my account with ADT last week,
but they are still trying to charge me, with 
their lies and arrogance on bills. I may end 
up having to cancel my debit card, and request 
a new one; but that's a hassle updating all the 
online accounts, and with bad weather forecast 
the next several days, I won't be going out, or 
doing computer work, or ham radio nets. At least 
I was able to release a square dance publication 
last night. So, I will have the bank dispute any 
further charges. I still plan on going with 
SimpliSafe, as soon as I can do so. Apparently, 
they charge HALF of what ADT was charging per 
month!!

CQ100 has morphed to CQ200. A VoIP only (no RF) 
mode, originally only for Windows, it can now be 
accessed via a browser on any desktop, laptop, 
tablet, or smartphone. It simulates operations 
for voice and data on portions of 80, 40, 20, 15, 
and 10 meters. Everyone has to sign up, even if 
they are a current user, and if they already have 
a paid membership, that will be recognized once 
they're valiated. This is good for those with HOA's, 
CC&R's, medical issues, or where they can't have RF 
gear of any kind, and this new version makes for 
portability, and helps new hams get over "mic fright". 
It's still $39 a year, with free usage from 0000 to 
2359 UTC on Sunday.

GE Bob (NY), how was your week?>>>

NS2B: 

GE guys.

Another typical week here. Warm one day cold the next.

A foot of rain is going to flood a bunch of roads down 
there!

And speaking of eating too much. In Syracuse there is 
one of the last remaining Carvel ice cream shops. We 
go there occasionally. So yesterday, I got a thing 
called a "Dasher" from there - think of a "Blizzard" 
on steroids with Caramel sauce and whip cream added.
I ate it all, but was miserable afterwards! I think
that was enough sugar for the remainder of this year!

In other news, went to the track Safety Seminar on 
Saturday. I've been through it a bunch of times, so 
it was mostly old news, but good to catch up with 
friends after the winter break.

Nothing new on the radio front - hoping it'll warm up 
a bit so I can get my G90 portable rig out on the deck 
and make a few contacts.

But I need warm first!!

That's all for me. BTU Daryl >>>

**

N5VLZ:

Bob, they are already warning folks with property or 
livestock in a flood plain area to get them moved now!! 
There will likely be a lot of washed out roads and 
bridges, resulting in detours.

I remember Carvel Ice Cream in Hialeah, Florida...almost 
like "the trough" that Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor had. 

FB on the race track stuff. A ham in Arkadelphia got a 
new HF antenna up, and before the CQ WPX contest, he only 
got 10 HF contacts. He increased that 6 fold with the new 
antenna!!

GE Rick, how as your week?? >>>

**

VA7RBP: 

Good evening Daryl, and Bob.

Didn't do much last week, due to the cold hanging around, 
and not wanting to pass it on.

Weather much like Bob's, and we had a wind storm blow 
through last Wednesday, and I found out yesterday that my 
end fed got flung around and tangled up in my hustler 
antenna array.

I thought it was OK the morning after the storm, but only 
noticed the mess when I went up to remove the Christmas 
lights...finally...

Mine only took a year and a half to get down...

Anyway, I got it straightened around and it's working OK.

Temps are starting to be spring-like, yesterday and today 
we were up to 65F.

Radio wise, I just did my usual 40M and 20M PACTOR in the 
mornings, then when 20M got quiet, I shut it down and read 
my book. Friday was the first day we ventured out for coffee
with friends. I hope the colds are done, and all we have 
left is that lingering cough...

The garden is show signs of life, we have chives and rhubarb 
starting to come up, I'll have to start thinking about 
sprouting some seeds indoors.

And I've been thinking of pulling the bicycle out of the 
shed and giving it a tune up. Time to start riding again 
and get rid of the couch muscle...

Well that's about it, so BTU Daryl >>>

**

N5VLZ:

Rick, you could be like Redneck Woman Gretchen Wilson,
who keeps her Christmas lights up all year long (hi hi).
Bummer on the "antenna tangulation" (or with a triband
antenna, is that "triangulation"??

I haven't put up any decorations in years...got burned
out for all the commercialism years ago...this years 
stuff will be up July 1 (sigh!). 

It has been in the 70s and 80s here, and we will pay for 
that with the storms. Pollen is real bad down here, and 
a lot of folks are suffering. Not sure if the final frost 
and freeze of the spring has occurred here yet, but it 
makes the gardeners mad when they can't plant early. The 
flooding rain will wash much of that away. 

Hope you can get the bicycle going again.

That's it for round 1...back to the top for final comments.

Darn arthritis in my hands is making typing difficult...
looks like some aspirin is in order. 

Bob, thanks for the use of the BBS...anything else?? >>>

**

NS2B: 

I still put up Christmas decorations, but I no longer drag 
out a ladder - if I can't reach it from the ground, it's 
not going up!

That's all for me, you guys have a good week - 73 >>>

**

N5VLZ:

Don't blame you a bit, Bob...not worth it. Thanks for being 
here.

Rick, anything else?? >>>

**

VA7RBP: 

Nope, that's all I have. Have a great week, stay well, thanks 
for doing the net Daryl, and for the use of the BBS Bob, 
73 until next time. BTU Daryl >>>

**

N5VLZ:

Take care, Rick, thanks for being here.

That will do it for tonight's net. I'll get the scribe posted
in the morning, as I need a bit of a computer break before the
other net tonight. Stay safe, healthy, weather aware, and 
radio-active. 73 and GN DE N5VLZ >>>

**


Daryl Stout, N5VLZ, Little Rock, Arkansas
Please see my QRZ bio for more information.


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