Welcome to Welcome to Northern Northern

California DX ClubCalifornia DX Club

January 21, 2010January 21, 2010

NCDXC Jan 10NCDXC Jan 10 Slide 2

Tonight’s AgendaTonight’s Agenda• Club Business

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

• The status of the sunspot cycle• Feature Presentation

– The Physics of DX, Cliff Stoll, PhD, K7TA• NCDXC Raffle

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NCDXC Officers for 2009/10NCDXC 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)

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Introductions of Members Introductions of Members & Guests& Guests

• Do to the large crowd tonight we are forgoing the normal “go around the room”

• Does anyone have any special guests that they would like to introduce?

• Any special announcements?

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New members?New members?

• Secretary’s Report– Russ, K6KLY

– Russ has applications…– Membership Voting?

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Badges we have Badges!Badges we have Badges!

• If you have ordered a badge see our Secretary – Russ, K6KLY

We Don't Need No Stinking Badges!

DX NEWSDX NEWS

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YI9PSE – IRAQ 2010YI9PSE – IRAQ 2010

• April 2010

• 3 NCDXC Members on the team– Team Leader – N6PSE, Paul Ewing– NI6T, Garry Shapiro– K9YC, Jim Brown

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YI9PSE – IRAQ 2010YI9PSE – IRAQ 2010

• The NCDXC Board of Directors has voted to award the YI9PSE IRAQ DXpediton a contribution of:

$2500

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DX ContestsDX Contests• CQ World-Wide WPX RTTY Contest

– February 13-14– Start at 0000 UTC Saturday (4PM, Friday

PST)– End at 2359 UTC Sunday (4PM, Sunday

PST)– Exchange – Signal Report & Serial Number– For rules see

• http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/RTTY_WPX_Rules_2010.pdf

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DX ContestsDX Contests• ARRL International DX Contests

– Start at 0000 UTC Saturday (4PM, Friday PST)– End at 2400 UTC Sunday (4PM, Sunday PST)– Exchange – Signal Report & State– See http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2010/intldx.html

for rules– Many good DX locations will be activated– Many of them will be on the air in the days before and

after the contest

• CW Weekend – February 20-21• Phone Weekend – March 6-7

QSTsQSTs

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DXer NewsDXer News

• New Editor – Phil Verinsky, W6TQG

• W6TQG, Phil has taken over from K6TT, Phil starting with the January issue

• Please help Phil follow in Phil’s footsteps by contributing content!

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NCDXC NetNCDXC Net

• Every Thursday 8pm • Except on monthly meeting nights (3rd

Thurs)• On W6TI repeater, 147.360 MHz, PL

110.9

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Next Month’s MeetingNext Month’s Meeting

• Thursday, February 18th

• Holder’s Country Inn–DeAnza Blvd, San Jose

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Next Month’s MeetingNext Month’s Meeting• Show & Tell

– Awards, Projects, New Radio “toys”, etc.

– Let me know what you

are bringing in advance

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NCDXC Club StoreNCDXC Club Store

• Check out the new club store on the web site: http://ncdxc.org/

• T-Shirts

• Coffee Mugs

• Mouse Pads

• Stickers

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Tonight’s RaffleTonight’s Raffle• Mike W6WZ & Carolyn

WB6ABC have some great prizes!– 1st Prize: Yaesu VX3 HT – Many other prizes as well

• Got Tickets?– see Carolyn or Mike – 6 for $5 - 12 for $10 - 24 for $20

• GOOD LUCK!

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Additional QSTsAdditional QSTs• Amateur Radio Technology Day

– Saturday, January 30th – 8AM to 9PM – At SLAC– http://www.fars.k6ya.org/

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

• Flea Market?

Our Sunspot CycleOur Sunspot Cycle

Cycle 24 where are you?Cycle 24 where are you?

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Spotless DaysSpotless Days

• Current Stretch: 0 days

• 2010 total: 2 days (11%)

• 2009 total: 260 days (71%)

• Since 2004: 772 days

• Typical Solar Min: 485 days

• Updated 19 Jan 10

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SOHO MDI Continuum Latest SOHO MDI Continuum Latest Image Image Big sunspot 1040 has just disappeared over the sun's western limb, leaving the

visible disk of the sun blank. This condition may be temporary, however,

because old sunspot 1039 is fast approaching from the

east.

Credit: SOHO/MDI

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The Farside of the Sun The Farside of the Sun This holographic image reveals no

sunspots on the far side of the sun. The

holographic technique used to map the farside is

evidently not sensitive enough to detect farside spot

1039.

Image credit: SOHO/MDI

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The Last 5 MonthsThe Last 5 Months

Things are definitely picking up!

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PrognosisPrognosis

• The current improvements in the SSN and SFI haven’t produced much improvement in DX yet…

• Hopefully the seasonal changes will improve conditions as we approach the equinox on March 20

FeatureFeaturePresentationPresentation

The Physics of DXThe Physics of DX

Cliff Stoll, PhD, K7TACliff Stoll, PhD, K7TA

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RAFFLERAFFLETIME!TIME!

• Does anyone need tickets before we start?

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Thanks for Coming Tonight!Thanks for Coming Tonight!

• Next Meeting–Thursday, February 18th

–Holder’s Country Inn