Welcome to Northern California DX Club

Welcome to Welcome to Northern Northern

California DX ClubCalifornia DX Club

June 18, 2009June 18, 2009

NCDXC June 09NCDXC June 09 Slide 2

Tonight’s AgendaTonight’s Agenda• Club Business

– Introduction of Officers– Introductions of Members– New members– DX news– QSTs– Election of Officers for 2009-2010

• The status of the sunspot cycle• Feature Presentation

– Remote Radio Operation Over the Internet • by Don Melcher, W6CZ

• 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


Introductions of Members Introductions of Members & Guests& Guests

• Let’s Go Around the room… – Introduce yourself & any guests– Tell us what new DX you have bagged– Any short Show & Tell?– Any other news you wish to share?


New members?New members?

• Secretary’s Report– Russ, K6KLY

– Russ has applications are available…

– Membership Voting?

DX NEWSDX NEWSAnyone have any news?Anyone have any news?

QSTsQSTs


Dues are DueDues are Due• Your annual dues are due July 1st!

– Unless you are a Life or Honorary Member of course• The dues are $24 per year ($39 for families)• New! You can now pay by Pay Pal!

– Checks, envelopes or stamps not required, just click away!• Go to http://www.ncdxc.org/• Click on the [ Make Online Payment ]

link below [ Membership Information ]• If you have moved, changed your call, changed

your email, etc. please add the new information to the Pay Pal form in the “comment” box

http://www.ncdxc.org/

http://www.ncdxc.org/Ncdxc/paypal/renew.html


NCXDC Summer PicnicNCXDC Summer Picnic

• Saturday, August 1st from 10 to 3:30• Lunch served at noon• Mitchell Park, Pine Grove Area, Palo

Alto• Burgers, hot dogs, beans, chips,

cookies & soft drinks – supplied by the Club

• You bring desserts, salads or whatever you wish


NCDXC NetNCDXC Net• Net coordinator - Don, 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


DXer MaterialDXer Material

• Editor - Phil, K6TT• 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 & Carolyn WB6ABC have some great

prizes!– 1st Prize: Yaesu VX-3R Ultra-Compact Dual Band HT w/Wide Band Rx– POWEREX 8 Cell Smart Charger with 8 batteries– 3 large FAIR-RITE Beads– 9-LED Flash Light– Roll of Rescue Tape– Yaesu Log Book– Door Prize: Key Chain Flash Light

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

• GOOD LUCK!


BadgesBadges

• K6FCW – Frank• KI6HLQ – Ken• KG6TT – Ralph• KJ9U – John• K6UJ – Bob

• If you here, please claim your badge

• If you know one of these Ops, please let them know

We Don't Need No Stinking Badges!

http://pl251.pairlitesite.com/badges/madre.jpg


Additional QSTsAdditional QSTs

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

• Amtech Day?• Flea Market?

Election of OfficersElection of Officers

2009 to 2010 Terms2009 to 2010 Terms


NCDXC ElectionNCDXC Election

• Elections of Officers and Directors will occur tonight and they will take office at the picnic on August 1st.

• Officers nominated by the Board are:– President Craig Bradley AE6RR– Vice President Phil Steffora K6TT– Secretary Russ Bentson K6KLY– Treasurer Jose Picazo Jr. WT6X


NCDXC ElectionNCDXC Election• The club’s Bylaws and Procedures call for the

election of 2 Directors. A third Director slot is always filled by the past club President.

• The Board’s nominations for the 2 elected Directors are:– Steve Jones N6SJ 2007/2008 Director– Jim Abraham W6EB 2007/2008 Director

• Past President– John Eisenberg K6YP 2007/2008 Past Prez.


NCDXC ElectionNCDXC Election

• This slate of officers and directors was published in the June DXer

• In accordance with the club’s bylaws, nominations for additional candidates will be open after the introductions of the Board’s slate of candidates


President: Craig Bradley – AE6RRPresident: Craig Bradley – AE6RR• I reside in San Jose and I am a Program

Manager at a Sunnyvale electronics systems house. I was first licensed in 1961 as WV6SVW and then WA6SVW. I allowed my license to lapse in 1967 and was re-licensed with an Extra Class ticket as AE6RR in 2004. My hobbies are model trains and ham radio.

• I operate from a stealth installation at my home QTH in San Jose and can also utilize my remote station located at my vacation home in Truckee CA.


President: Craig Bradley – AE6RRPresident: Craig Bradley – AE6RR(cont)(cont)

• I operate HF, VHF, UHF and 1.2 GHz mobile. I have worked some good DX from the parking lot at work.

• I hold DXCC (173 confirmed), WAC, WAS, WPX, CQ DX Field Award, CQ DX Award. I am also a member of the NCCC. I am mostly a DXer and a casual contester. My next goal is CW DXCC (57 confirmed currently).

• I have served as Secretary of the NCDXC for one term and President for the last year.


Vice President: Phil Steffora – K6TT

• Phil was first licensed in Redwood City, 1998 (original call KF6PEQ), upgraded to General (with code) October 2006 and to Extra in January 2008

• He currently serves as an (ASM) Assistant Section Manager for the Santa Clara Valley section of the ARRL as well as being a member of many local & state amateur organizations including PAARA, NCCC, NCDXC, SJVAR (San Joaquin Valley Amateur Radio Society)


Vice President: Phil Steffora – K6TT (cont)

• Phil is an avid DXer and enjoys some contesting. He has earned WAC, WAS, IARU Reg III, and just shy of DXCC (93).

• Phil has served as editor of the DXer and an ex-facto board member since June 2007. He has produced may excellent issues and has been successful in selling additional advertising in the DXer.

• He is also responsible for maintaining the club website and was responsible for creating the 2009 Visalia DX convention website.


Vice President: Phil Steffora – K6TT (cont)

• For his day job, Phil is CIO & VP Technical Operations for a Palo Alto based startup and has worked continuous in the Valley for more than 20+ years. He is happily married to his wife Myla, they live in San Jose with their two cats.

• Phil has proven to be a hard worker and a valuable contributor to the club; he will make an excellent Vice President.


Secretary: Russ Bentson - K6KLY

• Russ resides in Belmont and is a RF systems engineer for a major local cellular/PCS service provider. He was first licensed in 1957 and operates on all bands from 160 meter thru 10.3 GHz. He especially enjoys 6 meter DXing where he has way more than 90 confirmed countries!!!

• He is an active DXer, and holds #1 DXCC Honor Roll and 8 Band DXCC.


Secretary: Russ Bentson - K6KLY (cont)

• Russ has been a very active contributor to the DX Convention in Visalia and has manned the prize room for the last two NCDXC years with Jim, W6EB.

• Russ has held the office of Secretary for the last year and has performed an excellent job in his duties.


Treasurer: Jose Picazo - WT6X

• Jose resides in Livermore and is an entrepreneur in the Internet security space.

• He was first licensed in March 2007 and earned his Extra Class ticket in April of the same year. He enjoys SSB and RTTY HF operation.

• Jose has two sons, both licensed hams, and is an instrument rated/multi engine rated pilot.


Treasurer: Jose Picazo - WT6X(cont)

• He also enjoys sailing his Swan 48 up and down the California coast and even finds time to produce superb California Merlot.

• Jose has the business background required to manage NCDXC financial resources. He has served as Treasurer for the last year and has done an excellent job managing the club’s finances and keeping us straight with government filings.


Board Nominees for DirectorBoard Nominees for Director

• Jim Abraham - W6EB Jim is an active NCDXC member, DXer and contester. He is currently a NCDXC Director and a Visalia team leader.

• Steve Jones - N6SJSteve is also an active NCDXC member and active DXer with over 325 counties to his credit. He is currently a NCDXC Director and was co-chairman of the 2009 International DX Convention.


Past President - DirectorPast President - Director• John Eisenberg - K6YP

John is a past VP and President of NCDXC. He enjoys DXing and has 315 countries confirmed. John was the co-chair the DX Convention with Steve in 2009. As the past president he is automatically a Director according to the bylaws.


Ex Officio DirectorEx Officio Director• Risto Kotalampi - W6RK Risto has served as Vice President for the last 3

years and has done an excellent job organizing speakers for meeting and his other duties.

Normally the editor of the DXer is an Ex Officio Director, however as Phil has been nominated to the office of Vice President, the board wishes to appoint Risto to that position in order to continue to allow him to contribute to the club.


Nominations from the FloorNominations from the Floor• Are there any other nominations for any of

the officer or director positions? • If so, please introduce yourself, name the

office you wish to run for and take a few minutes to tell us about your qualifications.

• If there are no additional nominations, a motion to close the nominations is in order

• Is there such a motion? – Second? - Vote


Candidates NominatedCandidates Nominated to be voted on to be voted on

• 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


NCDXC ElectionNCDXC Election• If there are additional nominations a written

ballot is in order• If there are no additional nominations, I will

entertain a motion to elect the Board’s entire slate of candidates with one voice vote of the membership

• Is there such a motion?• Second?• Voice vote?


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)

Our Sunspot CycleOur Sunspot Cycle

The Sun is The Sun is NOTNOT Broken! Broken!


Mystery of the Missing Mystery of the Missing Sunspots, Solved?Sunspots, Solved?


This is Easy to ExplainThis is Easy to Explain• A helioseismic map of the solar interior• Tilted red-yellow bands trace solar jet

streams • Black contours denote

sunspot activity• When the jet streams

reach a critical latitude around 22 degrees, sunspot activity intensifies.


Butterfly DiagramButterfly Diagram


No Maunder Minimum!No Maunder Minimum!

• The current minimum has been long and deep

• Some scientists have speculated that the sun might enter another Maunder Minimum

• This new data dispels those concerns• The Sun is NOT BROKEN!• Credit: http://science.nasa.gov

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/29may_noaaprediction.htm

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/29may_noaaprediction.htm


Spotless DaysSpotless Days

• Current Stretch: 0 days• 2009 total: 131 days (78%)• Since 2004: 642 days• Typical Solar Min: 485 days


SOHO MDI Continuum Latest SOHO MDI Continuum Latest Image Image

Tiny sunspot 1021, which appeared

yesterday, is already fading

away.

Credit: SOHO/MDI

http://spaceweather.com/images2009/18jun09/midi512_blank.gif?PHPSESSID=h9upr2ck59s6af0vomf3le91u2

Remote Radio Operation Remote Radio Operation Over the InternetOver the Internet

Don Melcher, W6CZDon Melcher, W6CZ


RAFFLERAFFLETIME!TIME!

• Does anyone need tickets before we start?


Thanks for Coming Tonight!Thanks for Coming Tonight!

• Remember the net next Thursday night!

• Pray for sunspots!• 73 & Good DX!

Documents

Welcome to Northern California DX Club