Welcome to Welcome to Northern Northern

California DX ClubCalifornia DX Club

September 18, 2008September 18, 2008

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Tonight’s AgendaTonight’s Agenda• Club Business

– Election results & Introduction of Officers– Introductions– New members– DX news– QSTs

• Mini Topic– The sunspot cycle (please!)

• Today's Program– 3B7C, St. Brandon 2007 Video

• NCDXC Raffle (Mike will announce the prizes)

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NCDXCNCDXC 2008-09 Election Results 2008-09 Election Results& Introduction of Officers& Introduction 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

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IntroductionsIntroductions

• Let’s Go Around the room…

– Did you work 3B7C (got the QSL)?– What’s happening at your QTH?– Tell us what new DX you have snagged– Any other news you wish to share?

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New members…New members…

• Darryl, KI6LDM (application from June)

• Applications are available

• Voting

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DX NewsDX News

• KP5 Desecheo Island – The US Department of the Interior was taking applications! Possible operation between Sept and Dec 08. Waiting for more news on this one.

• ZS8T Marion Island - Petrus has not been heard from…

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

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DX News (cont.)DX News (cont.)

• VP8DIF South Georgia – soon– 100W, SSB & CW, battery power, only a few hours

per day

• JW Svalvard – Sept 25-29 for Scandinavian Activity Contest, CW, SSB and Digital

• 5R8 Madagascar – Sept 18 to 27, all modes, all bands including EME

QSTsQSTs

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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?

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We need an Editor for the DXerWe need an Editor for the DXer

• We are still looking for a person to publish the DXer. The DXer brings a great deal of enjoyment to NCDXC members near and far.

• Would you like to carry on Phil’s work?

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Your NCDXC Dues are DueYour NCDXC Dues are Due• NCDXC dues are:

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

• You will shortly receive a mail/email dues request:– Please update your contact information if necessary by filling out the

attached 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 and completed form to an NCDXC officer

• If you want to be included in the 2008-09 Roster, get them in by October 31!

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Tonight’s RaffleTonight’s Raffle

• Mike W6WZ and Carolyn WB6ABC have another great one tonight. Top prize is a ____________

• Mike will summarise the other top Prizes• Need Tickets?

– 6 for $5– 12 for $10– 24 for $20

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NCDXC NetNCDXC Net

• Please Remember

– NCDXC Net Every Thursday 8pm – Except when monthly meeting– On W6TI repeater, 147.360 MHz, PL 110.9

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Additional QSTsAdditional QSTs

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

Our Sunspot CycleOur Sunspot Cycle

A Fearless UpdateA Fearless Update

No Fruit Please!No Fruit Please!

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The Latest SunspotThe Latest Sunspot The Good News! Daily Sun: 12 Sep 08 A new sunspot emerged, number

1001, but it was a small spot and was not predicted to last long (and it didn’t)

And the Bad News August was the first time since

1913 that we went a whole month without a sunspot (first time ever for a whole calendar month)

 

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Cycle 24 where are you?Cycle 24 where are you?We are still bumping along the bottom of 23…

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Maunder NO!Maunder NO!Several solar scientists are jumping on the Maunder bandwagon!

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The Sun is The Sun is Not Not

Broken!Broken!Compare the bottom of cycle 16 with 23.

See “What's Wrong with the Sun? (Nothing)”

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/11jul_solarcycleupdate.htm?li

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How about a Sunspot Dance?How about a Sunspot Dance?

Last night the Current SSN was 0, the 90-day SSN was 1 and the Effective SSN was -12 (yes minus 12!)

Tonight’s Feature Tonight’s Feature ProgramProgram

3B7C St. Brandon 2007 Video 3B7C St. Brandon 2007 Video

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3B7C – September 20073B7C – September 2007 At the bottom of the sunspot cycle with no

sunspots visible during the entire expedition, this is the story of an

expedition to a remote desert island by a group of 20 radio amateurs, to provide

amateur radio operators around the world contacts with a country that ranks in the

“top 50 most wanted” in the world.

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• They dropped 3B7 from #18 to #55 in NA Pacific time zone (DX Magazine Jan/Feb 08)

• 137,500 QSOs

• 33,760 unique calls in the log

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3B7C3B7C

Lights PleaseLights Please

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The NCDXC Raffle!The NCDXC Raffle!

• Does anyone need tickets before we start?

• Main prize – 2m radio

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Thanks for Coming Tonight!Thanks for Coming Tonight!

• See you on the net next Thursday night!

• Drive safe!

• Pray for sunspots!

• 73 & Good DX!