Welcome to Northern California DX Club

Welcome to Welcome to Northern Northern

California DX ClubCalifornia DX Club

October 16, 2008October 16, 2008

NCDXC Sept 08NCDXC Sept 08 Slide 2

Tonight’s AgendaTonight’s Agenda• Club Business

– Introduction of Officers– Introductions of Members– New members– DX news– QSTs

• Mini Topic– The status of the sunspot cycle

• Tonight's Feature Event – A DX Forum• NCDXC Raffle


Introduction of OfficersIntroduction of Officers• Officers

– President Craig Bradley AE6RR

– Vice Pres Risto Kotalampi W6RK

– Secretary Russ Bentson K6KLY

– Treasurer Jose Picazo Jr. WT6X

• Directors– Steve Jones N6SJ

– Jim Abraham W6EB

– John Eisenberg K6YP


IntroductionsIntroductions

• Let’s Go Around the room…

– Introduce yourself– Tell us what new DX you have snagged– Any other news you wish to share?

(please keep it brief)


New members?New members?

• Secretary - Russ, K6KLY

– He has applications are available…– Voting


DX NewsDX News

• KP5 Desecheo Island – A team has been selected to be co-led by Dr. Glenn

Johnson, W0GJ and Bob Allphin, K4UEE – Sometime between Jan 15 and Mar 30, 2009– 14 Day operation

• VK9DXW Willis Island – QRV now through Oct 27– Will be on during CQWW SSB

• TO5DX St. Barthelemy Island – Oct 16 to 28– 12 Days, 4 stations, all bands and modes– Will be on during CQ WW SSB


CQ WW SSB DX ContestCQ WW SSB DX Contest

• 0000 UTC, Oct 25 through 2359 UTC Oct 26– Note that it starts on Friday, Oct 24 at 5PM PDT

• All HF bands 160m through 10m except WARC bands• Simple exchange – RS report plus CQ zone

– Example 5903 (everyone gets a 59 & we are in zone 3)

• Multipliers – CQ Zones and countries– Contrary to some opinions, you can contact your own zone and

country for multipliers (no point credit)

• For more info see the rules at http://www.cqww.com/• There is a huge list of preannounced DX activity including

Willis and St. Bart’s


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AE6RR DX Contest CountriesAE6RR DX Contest CountriesFrom 0 to 100 in 18 mo (June 07)From 0 to 100 in 18 mo (June 07)

‘04 CQ WW DX Contest

’05 CQ WW DX Contest

’04 ARRL DX Contest

’04 CQ WPX Contest

’05 ARRL DX Contest


2008 Sweepstakes2008 Sweepstakes

• CW – November 1-3• SSB – November 15-17 • Starts 2100 UTC Saturday ends 0300 UTC Monday• Not a DX contest but the NCCC, the current holder of the

gavel needs our support!– Get on and work the local guys, especially during the evening

and night hours– Rally times (PST): 11PM Sat & 7:50PM (3545), 1PM Sun (7045)– This contest is a lot of fun and a good chance to get WAS in a

weekend or two

• See http://www.arrl.org/contests/ for more information and rules


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AE6RR SS WAS ResultsAE6RR SS WAS ResultsFrom 0 to 100 in 18 mo (June 07)From 0 to 100 in 18 mo (June 07)

2004 Sweepstakes Contest

Mass Mailing of QSL cards

QSTsQSTs


IDXC VisaliaIDXC Visalia

• IDXC 2009 (our 60th year) will be held April 17- April19, 2009 at the Visalia Holiday Inn

• Let’s make 2009 the best IDXC EVER!!!

• Any announcements from the Committee?


PacificonPacificon

• This coming weekend– Friday, Oct 17 to Sunday, Oct 19

• San Ramon Marriot Hotel

• NCDXC will have a booth

• See http://www.pacificon.org/ for more information


Amateur RadioAmateur Radio Technology Day Technology Day

• November 1– 8 AM to 9 PM

• Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

• See http://www.fars.k6ya.org/amtechday/ for more information


NCDXC Holiday LuncheonNCDXC Holiday Luncheon

• Saturday, December 13th

– 11 AM to 3 PM

• Michael’s Restaurant– Mountain View

• Carolyn, WB6ABC and Mike, W6WZ are the organizers – any additional news?

• Mark your calendars!


NCDXC NetNCDXC Net• We have a new net coordinator

– Don Anastasia, AA6W– If you would like to be a net control, please

see or contact Don

• Please Remember - NCDXC Net – Every Thursday 8pm – Except on monthly meeting nights (3rd Thurs)– On W6TI repeater, 147.360 MHz, PL 110.9


Have You Paid Your Dues?Have You Paid Your Dues?• NCDXC dues are:

– $24 for individuals– $39 for families– $16 for absentee members

• You should have received a mail/email dues request:– If you did not receive the letter:

• You are not in the membership data base• Or your address is incorrect• Please update your contact information by filling out the membership renewal form

– Mail dues to NCDXC, PO Box 608, Menlo Park, CA 94026– Be sure to put your call sign on your check

– Or give your check to Russ, WT6X tonight!• If you want to be included in the 2008-09 Roster,

get it in by October 31!


Roster Committee?Roster Committee?

• Would anyone like to help get the annual NCDXC Roster out?

• Tasks involve– Minor editing/formatting

(the roster comes out of the database)

– Printing (coordinate with a printer)– Envelope stuffing and mailing

• If you would like to help see Craig, AE6RR or Russ, K6KLY


DXer MaterialDXer Material

• The DXer is back!• Phil, K6PTS has turned out another great

edition!• If you have suggestions for articles, etc. please

see or contact Phil• If you would like to contribute (photos, articles,

etc.), Phil will be very happy to talk to you!• This is your newsletter – help make it great!


Tonight’s RaffleTonight’s Raffle• Mike W6WZ and Carolyn WB6ABC have some great prizes

tonight– 1st Prize: MFJ-890 Beacon Monitor with MFJ-1312 12V Power

Supply– 2nd Prize: 20 Meter HamStick Dipole Antenna– 3rd Prize: 40 Meter HamStick with 5 quick disconnects– 4th Prize: Galaxy 880 2m/70cm Dual Band High Gain Antenna– Door Prizes: LED Flashlights

• Need Tickets – see Carolyn or Mike – 6 for $5– 12 for $10– 24 for $20

• GOOD LUCK!


FREE Ham BooksFREE Ham Books

• There are some FREE Ham Radio books left from last month

• They are on the table

• Please take them home (so I don’t have to)!


Additional QSTsAdditional QSTs

• Does anyone have any other announcements they would like to make?

Our Sunspot CycleOur Sunspot Cycle

A Fearless UpdateA Fearless Update


Our Spotless SunOur Spotless Sun• 2008 has been announced as the “blankest

year” of the Space Age• As of Sept 23, the sun had been blank with no

visible sunspots on 200 days of the year• To find another year with more blank days, you

have to go back before Sputnik (1954) when there were 241


The Latest SunspotThe Latest SunspotDaily Sun: 14 Oct 08

• Sunspot number 1005, is beginning to fade away

• Conditions on Wednesday evening (Oct 15)– Current SSN: 13, 90 day: 2– Effective SSN: -2 (yes minus)– Current SFI: 71, 90 day: 67– Ap: 7– Kp: 1


Cycle 24 is it you?Cycle 24 is it you?

Sunspot 1005

Back Maunder! Back!

Tonight’s Feature EventTonight’s Feature Event

A DX ForumA DX Forum


DX Forum PanelDX Forum Panel

• Panel Members (introductions)–Russ Bentson, K6KLY–Rusty Epps, W6OAT–Steve Jones, N6SJ–Garry Shapiro, NI6T

• Moderator–Craig Bradley, AE6RR


DX Forum FormatDX Forum Format• The moderator will present a

question/topic to the panel• Each panel member will have about 2

minutes to comment (panel members may yield time to each other)

• We will try to limit each question to 10 minutes

• There are 4 predetermined questions• Additional questions will be taken from the

floor as time permits (~ 1 hr)


DX Forum QuestionsDX Forum Questions1. What are your favorite methods to

search for DX (tuning, spots, etc.)?

2. How important is listening and how to do it best?

3. What is the best way to call the DX (crack the pileup) on phone?

4. What is the best way to call the DX on CW?

5. Questions from the floor?


DX Forum QuestionsDX Forum Questions

1. What are your favorite methods to search for DX (tuning, spots, etc.)?



2. How important is listening and how to do it best?



3. What is the best way to call the DX (crack the pileup) on phone?



4. What is the best way to call the DX (crack the pileup) on CW?



Questions from the floor?


The NCDXC Raffle!The NCDXC Raffle!

• Does anyone need tickets before we start?

• Prizes– 1st MFJ-890 Beacon Monitor with MFJ-1312 12V

Power Supply– 2nd 20 Meter HamStick Dipole Antenna– 3rd 40 Meter HamStick with 5 quick disconnects– 4th Galaxy 880 2m/70cm Dual Band High Gain

Antenna– Door prizes – LED Flashlights


Thanks for Coming Tonight!Thanks for Coming Tonight!

• Remember the net next Thursday night!

• Take a book!

• Get your dues in!

• Drive safe!

• Pray for sunspots!

• 73 & Good DX!

Welcome to Northern California DX Club

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