Welcome to Northern California DX Club September 18, 2008

Slide 2 NCDXC Sept 08 Tonight’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)

Slide 3 NCDXC Sept 08 NCDXC Election Results & Introduction of Officers Officers –President Craig BradleyAE6RR –Vice PresRisto Kotalampi W6RK –SecretaryRuss BentsonK6KLY –TreasurerJose Picazo Jr.WT6X Directors –Steve JonesN6SJ –Jim AbrahamW6EB –John EisenbergK6YP

Slide 4 NCDXC Sept 08 Introductions 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?

Slide 5 NCDXC Sept 08 New members… Darryl, KI6LDM (application from June) Applications are available Voting

Slide 6 NCDXC Sept 08 DX 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

Slide 7 NCDXC Sept 08 DX News (cont.) VP8DIF South Georgia – soon –100W, SSB & CW, battery power, only a few hours per day JW Svalvard – Sept for Scandinavian Activity Contest, CW, SSB and Digital 5R8 Madagascar – Sept 18 to 27, all modes, all bands including EME

QSTs

Slide 9 NCDXC Sept 08 IDXC 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?

Slide 10 NCDXC Sept 08 We 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?

Slide 11 NCDXC Sept 08 Your NCDXC Dues are Due NCDXC dues are: –$24 for individuals –$39 for families –$16 for absentee members You will shortly receive a mail/ 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 –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 Roster, get them in by October 31!

Slide 12 NCDXC Sept 08 Tonight’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

Slide 13 NCDXC Sept 08 NCDXC Net Please Remember –NCDXC Net Every Thursday 8pm –Except when monthly meeting –On W6TI repeater, MHz, PL 110.9

Slide 14 NCDXC Sept 08 Additional QSTs Does anyone have any other announcements they would like to make?

Our Sunspot Cycle A Fearless Update No Fruit Please!

Slide 16 NCDXC Sept 08 The 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)

Slide 17 NCDXC Sept 08 Cycle 24 where are you? We are still bumping along the bottom of 23…

Slide 18 NCDXC Sept 08 Maunder NO! Several solar scientists are jumping on the Maunder bandwagon!

Slide 19 NCDXC Sept 08 The Sun is Not Broken! Compare the bottom of cycle 16 with 23. See “What's Wrong with the Sun? (Nothing)” headlines/y2008/11jul_so larcycleupdate.htm?li

Slide 20 NCDXC Sept 08 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 Program 3B7C St. Brandon 2007 Video

Slide 22 NCDXC Sept 08 3B7C – 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.

Slide 23 NCDXC Sept 08 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

Slide 24 NCDXC Sept 08 3B7C

Lights Please

Slide 26 NCDXC Sept 08 The NCDXC Raffle! Does anyone need tickets before we start? Main prize – 2m radio

Slide 27 NCDXC Sept 08 Thanks for Coming Tonight! See you on the net next Thursday night! Drive safe! Pray for sunspots! 73 & Good DX!