Welcome to Northern California DX Club

1. Welcome to Northern California DX Club November 19, 2009

2. Tonight’s Agenda • Club Business • Introduction of Officers • Introductions of Members • New members • DX news • QSTs • The status of the sunspot cycle • Feature Presentation • Antenna Forum Part 2 • NCDXC Raffle NCDXC Nov 09

3. NCDXC Officers for 2009/10 • Officers • President Craig Bradley AE6RR • Vice Pres Phil Steffora K6TT • Secretary Russ Bentson K6KLY • Treasurer Jose Picazo Jr. WT6X • Directors • Steve Jones N6SJ • Jim Abraham W6EB • John Eisenberg K6YP (Past President) • Risto Kotalampi W6RK (Ex Officio) NCDXC Nov 09

4. Introductions of Members & Guests • Let’s Go Around the room… • Introduce yourself & any guests • Tell us what new DX you have bagged (or didn’t) • Any short Show & Tell? • Any other news you wish to share? NCDXC Nov 09

5. Election of Honorary Member In accordance with the Procedures and Bylaws of the NCDXC, the Board of Directors has unanimously nominated a fellow ham as a new Honorary Member

6. Bob Vallio, W6RGG • ARRL Pacific Division Director • Long time Member of NCDXC NCDXC Nov 09

7. Bob Vallio, W6RGG • ARRL Experience: • East Bay Section Manager (Section Communications Manager) for 22 consecutive years (1/1/78 - 12/31/99) • Pacific Division Vice Director, 1/1/2000 - 2/6/2003 • Pacific Division Director, 2/6/2003 - Present NCDXC Nov 09

8. Bob Vallio, W6RGG • Operating Experience: • First licensed as WN6RGG in 1952 • Active on HF, VHF and UHF for over 50 years • Active in emergency communications for over 30 years • Avid DXer and contester, working both from home and from numerous expeditions on six continents NCDXC Nov 09

9. Bob Vallio, W6RGG • Clubs/Foundations: • Director of the YASME Foundation. • Active in Alameda County Sheriff's Communications Team (a RACES unit) for over 30 years, currently serving as Chief Radio Officer. • Charter member of the Northern California Contest Club. • Long time member of the Northern California DX Club. • Professional Experience: • Retired System Design Consultant, Pacific Bell, 1990. • Attended San Jose State College. NCDXC Nov 09

10. Bob Vallio, W6RGG • The NCDXC Board of Directors hereby requests that the membership of the club confirm the Honorary Membership of Bob Vallio, W6RGG NCDXC Nov 09

11. New members? • Secretary’s Report • Russ, K6KLY • Russ has applications… • Membership Voting? • You must be a member to attend the Holiday Luncheon NCDXC Nov 09

12. DX NEWS

13. TX3A • Chesterfield Islands DXpedition • Now through early December • Main focus on low bands (160 & 80) • Operating all bands and modes • Online log • Posting to LoTW • Web site: http://www.tx3a.com/ NCDXC Nov 09

14. TX3A - Chesterfield Is. NCDXC Nov 09

15. DX Contests • CQ WW CW DX Contest • November 28-29 • Starts 0000 UTC Sat (Friday afternoon local) • Ends 2400 UTC Sunday • Simple Exchange – RST + Zone (59903 or 5nn03) • See http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/ for rules • Many good DX locations will be activated • Many of them will be on the air in the days before the contest on phone also NCDXC Nov 09

16. QSTs

17. Roster • We are working on the Roster • If you paid your dues and are not listed on the web site as paid, see Russ, W6KLY or Jose, WT6X • Everyone that paid will be included • Please be sure that your information is correct • We plan to have the Rosters printed before the Holiday Luncheon NCDXC Nov 09

18. Holiday Luncheon • Dec 12 – 11AM • Michael’s Shoreline Restaurant • Presentation – Midway Island 2009 • By Kevin Rowett, K6TD & Tom Berson, ND2T • Menu • New York Steak $25.00. • Breast of Chicken Marsala $20.00. • Broiled Halibut $25.00. • Spinach and Cheese Tortellini (Veggie) $15.00 • See Mike, W6WZ or Carolyn, WB6ABC for reservations (after the meeting) • Members and their guests (1) only! NCDXC Nov 09

19. DXer News • Current Editor - Phil, K6TT • New Editor – Phil Verinsky, W6TQG • TQG Phil will be taking over for TT Phil on the January issue • Please help Phil step into Phil’s shoes by contributing content! NCDXC Nov 09

20. NCDXC Net • Every Thursday 8pm • Except on monthly meeting nights (3rd Thurs) • On W6TI repeater, 147.360 MHz, PL 110.9 NCDXC Nov 09

21. Tonight’s Raffle • Mike W6WZ & Carolyn WB6ABC have some great prizes! • 1st Prize: Yaesu FT-2500M 2M 65 Watt Mobile Transceiver • Many other prizes as well • Got Tickets? • see Carolyn or Mike • 6 for $5 - 12 for $10 - 24 for $20 • GOOD LUCK! NCDXC Nov 09

22. K6FCW – Frank KG6TT – Ralph K6UJ – Bob K1DOD – Jonathan If you here, please claim your badge If you know one of these Ops, please let them know Badges we have Badges! We Don't Need No Stinking Badges! NCDXC Nov 09

23. Additional QSTs • Amateur Radio Technology Day • Saturday, December 12th • 8AM to 9PM • At SLAC • http://www.fars.k6ya.org/ • Does anyone have any other short announcements they would like to make? • Flea Market? NCDXC Nov 09

24. Our Sunspot Cycle Cycle 24 where are you?

25. Spotless Days • Current Stretch: 0 days • 2009 total: 243 days (76%) • Since 2004: 754 days • Typical Solar Min: 485 days • Updated 18 Nov 09 NCDXC Nov 09

26. SOHO MDI Continuum Latest Image Two sunspots are emerging in the sun's northern hemisphere. Both are members of new Solar Cycle 24. Sunspot 1032 appears to be the reincarnation of old sunspot Credit: SOHO/MDI NCDXC Nov 09

27. The Farside of the Sun This holographic image reveals no sunspots on the far side of the sun. Image credit: SOHO/MDI NCDXC Nov 09

28. The Last 2 Months There have been a few small sunspots lately and the SFI has come up to 76 NCDXC Nov 09

29. FeaturePresentation

30. Antenna Forum Dean Straw, N6BV Kirsten McIntyre, K6WX Jim Brown, K9YC

31. Dean Straw, N6BV • First licensed in 1959 as WH6DKD • EE from Yale University • First job was at National Radio Company designing HF and VHF radios • Worked in the commercial radio industry all of his life • Worked at the ARRL HQ for 15 years • specializing in antennas, transmission lines and propagation • He was the editor of the ARRL Antenna Book and other books dealing with antennas NCDXC Nov 09

32. Kirsten McIntyre, K6WX • Interested in radio since she was about 5 years old  • First ticket in 1979 while at MIT   • Worked in many diverse areas • analog circuit design • image processing • starting and running an ISP • formerly the CTO of a Japanese web services company • formerly worked as a principal investigator at Sun Microsystems Laboratories.   • ARRL Technical Coordinator and Technical Specialist for the East Bay Section, • Past president of PAARA • Has extensive experience operating from an apartment. NCDXC Nov 09

33. Jim Brown, K9YC • First licensed in 1955 as WN8FNI • BSEE at the University of Cincinnati in 1964 • System design consultant, specializing in systems for public places. • Vice-chair of the EMC Working Group of the Standards Committee of the AES and Chair of the Technical Committee on EMC • He has written numerous technical papers on sound system design • Locally known for his papers and talks on the use of ferrites • Avid contester • Jim primarily uses wire antennas NCDXC Nov 09

34. Antenna Forum Dean Straw, N6BV Kirsten McIntyre, K6WX Jim Brown, K9YC

35. RAFFLETIME! • Does anyone need tickets before we start? NCDXC Nov 09

36. Thanks for Coming Tonight! • Remember the net next Thursday night! • Pray for sunspots! • 73 & Good DX! NCDXC Nov 09