PCARS (K8BF)

This is the latest from Bernie McClenny, W3UR and his Daily DX. I thought you PCARS members who are into the Digital modes would be interested.

DX with the digital mode, Olivia, is increasing as more operators around the world are trying it for the first time, and finding it useful for DX on HF, especially when the DX is via trans-polar propagation. The Olivia Digital DXers Club (we’re on Club Log!) is holding the first annual Winter Olivia Digital Mode on HF QSO Party, starting at 00:00 UTC, 24 December 2023, and ending at 23:59 UTC, 31 December, 2023.

Full details are on our website:
https://OliviaDigitalMode.org https://oliviadigitalmode.org/

Olivia, a Multi-Frequency Shift Keying (MFSK) radioteletype digital mode, is an amateur radioteletype protocol designed to work in difficult (low signal-to-noise ratio plus multipath) propagation conditions on shortwave radio (i.e., high-frequency, or HF) bands. The typical Olivia signal is decoded when the amplitude of the noise is over ten times that of the digital signal!

If you are an amateur radio operator, and you have not yet heard about or used the Olivia digital mode, please watch the talk presented to the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society, recently. It is an introduction to the mode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kds4RCQQ8a0

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73 – Chuck W8PT

The next Flex Net will take place on Wednesday December 13th at 8:00 PM. It will be on 147.595 MHz FM Simplex (voice). I hope to hear you then!

73, Rick K8CAV

Attn: PCARS DXers & Contesters:

Here is something that you should be aware of:
From Bernie’s bulletin today:

OZ0J asks is it “the death of direct QSL cards to Denmark?” The public postal company in Denmark began in 1624. Starting January 1, 2024, the government is changing the rules for letters and magazines. First, no “mandatory delivery” to all physical addresses. Then, unused stamps can no longer be used for domestic letters, only for international letters. The cheapest postage fora letter up to 100 grams from Denmark to any other country will be about 8 USD or EUR. So, to cover return QSL costs you would have to include that much. He suggests use LoTW or Club Log OQRS if possible. He, OZ0J, Joe, will continue to send direct cards from Germany a few times a year, to keep the cost more reasonable. He will also collect envelopes from others Iin Denmark and send them out from Germany along with his own.

$.66 doesn’t seem so much now, does it. LOL
Larry, W0PR

73 – Chuck W8PT

There will be no Portable Operation SIG on the month of December. 

I’ll look forward to seeing everyone in January at the January SIG (Jan 9th), and then on Jan 20th at the Wingfoot Lake Park. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday season. 

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

73, DE WG8X
John Myers, WG8X
kd8mq1@gmail.com
330-936-5021

Tonight’s PCARS meeting is our annual Christmas dinner, open to all PCARS members and their families. Unfortunately, the time frame for reservations has closed. To everyone who did not RSVP, I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing you at many PCARS events in 2024!

For those who will be in attendance, there will be a short PCARS meeting after dinner, along with the usual PCARS Gift Exchange! Please bring a ten-dollar gift and mark it for a HAM or a NON-HAM. (Non-ham gifts should be gender-neutral.)

If you are bringing children, please bring a special gift for your own children, and mark the child’s name on the gift so we can make sure it gets to him or her.

There will be a table with two baskets, one labeled “HAM” and the other labeled “NON-HAM” with slips of paper in the front of them. Put your gift on the table, pick up a slip of paper, write your callsign, and deposit in the “HAM” basket if you brought a ham gift, or, write your name on it and deposit it in the “NON-HAM” basket if you brought a non-ham gift. PLEASE: do not deposit a slip if you did not bring a gift for the EXCHANGE!

Merry Christmas!

Nick AC8QG
PCARS President