Volume 12, Number 6/7 June/July 2007
The Nugget
The Newsletter of the Mother Lode DX/Contest Club
The MLDXCC Newsletter Page 1
MEETING DATE, LOCATION & PROGRAM
The annual MLDXCC/NCCC BBQ/Potluck and joint club meeting will be Saturday, 7-July-2007 in Jackson, CA. Gather at 11:30 AM, lunch about noon and meeting at 1:00 PM. As usual, visitors are always welcome.
This year's meeting will feature a presentation by NCCC founding member Bob, W6RGG on the 2007 BS7H Scarborough Reef DXpedition.
Please bring the following to share based on the first letter of the
suffix of your callsign:
A-G- Salad (potato, macaroni, fruit, green, etc.)
H-N- Relishes (assorted pickles, olives, carrot sticks/veggies w/dip,
etc.)
O-U- Desserts (simple desserts, cookies, fresh fruit, etc.)
V-Z- Chips/dips/salsas
TriTip, Chicken/Turkey breast, and sodas/water will be provided by MLDXCC
and NCCC.
See the MLDXCC web site Meetings for complete directions:
http://www.twistedoak.com/mldxcc/ de Ken, K6TA
FROM THE PREZ
Field Day has come & gone. MLDX/CC operated 1-A from Peddler Hill in Amador County across the road from the Bear Valley Reservoir. We made over 1500 Qs. Thanks to Carl AI6V, Jim WX6V, Jack KF6T, Dave WB6GEF, Rick N6RK for their hard work and contributions. See Jim’s report for details. I, for one, am awaiting more sunspots and the return of 10 & 15 meters so we can run more transmitters. From that location, we ought to do well on those bands.
CQ’s World Wide WPX (worked all prefixes) CW contest was held on Memorial Day weekend. KF6T, Jack operated at AI6V in a multi and rolled up 1928 Qs x 697 prefixes for 3,009,646 points. WF6C aka N6XI rolled up 618 x 292 to get 273,604. AD6E operated at W6NV’s. WX6V managed 840 Qs x 426 to equal 839,220. K6TA dba WM6A got 708 x 350=411,600. K6LRN had 416 x 292 for 225,036. KI6T had 278 x 222 for 115,884 and K3UG as KS6NA, N6RK, and W1RH were active in the contest as well. There may have been others. I gathered these scores from the 3830 web site.
The results for the 10 Meter contest have been available on line at the ARRL web site for several weeks. MLDX/CC had a mention in the club competition as there were at least three logs submitted for the club. Had we known, some more logs could have been submitted. Also, MLDX/CC needs to enter as a ‘medium’ club due to out club territory. If we enter as a ‘small’ club, which we really are we would have to exclude a lot of our membership. This is one reason we need a ‘contest chair-person’…someone to compile the scores and send off a list of participants to the club sponsor. IMO, it is really simple to report score. When you post your score to 3830, check the square that asks if you want a copy sent to your mailbox. When you receive, edit as new and send to the appropriate reflector. If sending a score for MLDX/CC, send to our reflector, if competing/entering for NCCC, send to NCCC reflector.
Tentative program for August is our own Norm Wilson, N6JV. He will report on his latest IOTA adventure. For future meetings, we have videos of WRTC 2006, 5A7A-Libya by DK7PE and 3Y0X-Peter I. Check the Northern California DX Foundation’s web site for a complete list of videos. Let me know if there is something you would like to see.
Ken Anderson, K6TA is trying to find another meeting venue. One possibility is ‘Mountain Mike’s’ in the ex-RT Pizza’s space in Martell. They have moved the video games out. If they are open in August, we will see how that works. The ‘new’ RT pizza cannot give us exclusive use of the side room nor can we reserve the space. Another possibility is the Senior Center. One problem; they want $$. While we do have some money in our treasury now, it will be gone unless dues are increased. Some have suggested other RTs in the area; Valley Springs, Cameron Park, etc. As we have members from Yankee Hill to the north, Twain Harte to the south plus those coming from Galt, we have to try to find some kind of compromise. IMO, the Mexican restaurant in Plymouth is convenient for us, but it is noisy and there is no accommodation for video presentations. Suggestions are welcome! Thanks, Ken & Kay for your efforts.
Don’t forget to drop by the ‘day-old’ salad/dessert store for your contribution to the joint meeting potluck lunch next Saturday at the Senior Center. Bob Vallio, W6RGG & Tom Berson, ND2T will be there to tell us about their adventure to Scarborough Reef-BS7H. For many, that was the last entity needed for ‘Top of the Honor Roll’. Not me…still need four more. Oh, well.
Also, for the joint meeting, NCCC will be signing up members of MLDX/CC that are not already members of NCCC. NCCC actually won the large club competition in 2006 Sweepstakes and will be making another attempt this November. MLDX/CC will be signing up members to help us maintain our dominance in the California QSO Party.
73, Dick Wilson K6LRN
Member news/feedback/Announcements.
I'm having a ball field testing the Elecraft K3. Looking forward to the joint meeting. …..Rick N6XI
Kay, K6KO worked 9X0VB for #333 Mixed and #332 Phone. Congrats! de Ed.
Backhoe dug the tower base and the three guy anchor holes. I built the rebar cages. A lot more work than I thought. Could be a new career for me. Need to set them in place along with the actual anchor rods and call for an inspection. Bought a FT-1000MP.
CU all at the meeting. Bob, W1RH
EDITOR’S NOTES
Well the last two month have not seen a lot of radio operation from the old’ W6SR radio ranch. Nope, I had a couple of week of medical problems which were a bit intense. But, all ended favorably for me, after the test the results evaluated.
So, to celebrate the good news, Karen and I packed up the Yukon and headed out for a much needed vacation. We went to our place in Bullhead City, AZ. for a couple of days; from there we continued east to Durango, CO. to see my old friend K0YW, (formally K6JYO) and his wife Patty. A day after we arrived, K6XT, who also lives in the area, and W6XI, who was also vacationing (he now lives in AZ) stopped by with their wives. We proceeded to have a mini-hamfest over dinner, and a lot of “Hand Town Red” wine brought from El Dorado County by yours truly, HI HI. After eight days of wandering, we were back home, relaxed, with renewed sprit, and great memories of time well spent.
With all my weed-whacking and lawn mowing behind me (for another year) I have turned my attention to working 6 meter E skip and getting ready for better conditions as we move into the beginning of a new sun-spot cycle.
I have been re-evaluating my entire station and antenna system. Which antennas do I really use, and how much? Do the antennas work well? And, what are the station’s short comings? Not including the old operator of course, HI HI. What does all that mean? It means antennas of course, the tweaking and replacement of antennas, specifically. In the coming months I will change out several and may even streamline and/or replace some of the radio gear for ease of operation and to get all this stuff into the 21st century.
I’ll keep ya’ informed of my progress. CUL the 7th. de Rick W6SR
May & June Treasurer’s Report
Balance May 1, 2007: $871.07
Income: Badge 13.00
Donations 7.92
Dues 15.00
Refund Round Table 50.00
Expenses:
Badge 12.97
Liability Insurance 320.00
Round Table Dep. 50.00
Balance June 1, 2007: $574.00
Income: 00
Expenses: FD Fuel 35.00
Balance June 30, 2007 $539.00
Carolyn Wilson K6TKD, Treasurer
General Meeting Minutes,9 June 2007.
Dick Wilson, K6LRN, President Pro Tem, called the meeting to order at 12:45 PM, following lunch at the Colina de Oro Mexican Restaurant, Plymouth, California. Ten members and Fred Honnold, W6YM/NH6P, Associate, attended.
Officers’ Roll Call. President Pro Tem Dick, Director Ken Anderson, K6TA, Director Ray Parker, ND6S, Director Rich Hill, NU6T and Secretary Kay Anderson, K6KO, were present.
Secretary’s Minutes and Treasurer’s Report. The Minutes and Treasurer’s Report of 19 May 2007 will be printed in the July Nugget newsletter, as no newsletter was distributed this month.
New Venue. The Club is still looking for a more permanent meeting place. Ken, K6TA, announced that Mountain Mike’s Pizza is opening a new place in half of the old Round Table Pizza restaurant in Martell, where the Club used to meet. Projected date of opening is late June, and Ken will check out the venue and report if it is acceptable for type of meeting. If so, the August meeting will be held there. Today’s meeting place, Colina de Oro, works for us, but it’s difficult for the restaurant to ensure exclusive use of the meeting area if the Saturday luncheon business is heavy. Denny’s Restaurant in Jackson was also suggested as a possible venue.
Joint Meeting with NCCC. Director Ken, K6TA, has provided proof of insurance to the Senior Center in Jackson, the venue for the 7 July joint meeting with the Northern California Contest Club. Bob Vallio, W6RGG, will provide the program on the 2007 BS7 Scarborough Reef DXpedition. It’s also hoped that Tom, ND2T and Jim, W6EU, members of the 1997 Scarborough DXpedition, will also be in attendance.
Field Day 2007. Jack, KF6T, expanded on the plan for this year’s Field Day effort at Peddler Hill, solidifying assignments. This year promises to be a successful weekend, with new equipment/antenna configurations and goals.
Upcoming DXpeditions. Fred, W6YM/NH6P, is planning a trip to 3C7, Equatorial Guinea, in September. The group will work both phone and CW; it’s been several years since 3C7 has been on the air on CW and Fred will be the single CW operator.
Achievements. Kay, K6KO, came in 5th World as P40K from Aruba in the 2006 10-Meter Contest last December.
Adjournment. Meeting was adjourned at 1:35 PM. Kay Anderson, K6KO
Secretary
General Meeting Minutes, 19 May 2007.
Dick Wilson, K6LRN, President Pro Tem, called the meeting to order at 12:25 PM at the new Round Table Pizza in Amador Ridge Center in Martell, Ca. Nineteen members were present.
Officers’ Roll Call. President Pro Tem Dick, Treasurer Carolyn Wilson, K6TKD, Director Ken Anderson, K6TA, Director Ray Parker, ND6S, Director Rich Hill, NU6T and Secretary Kay Anderson, K6KO, were present.
Secretary’s Minutes and Treasurer’s Report. The Minutes and Treasurer’s Report of 31 March 2007 were approved as printed in the April Nugget. No meeting was held in April since many of the members attended the International DX Convention in Visalia..
New Venue. The meeting room at the new Round Table is actually just a side of the restaurant that can be closed off by sliding glass doors and cannot be darkened for slide shows. Although the restaurant personnel allowed us to close off the area for this meeting, in the future we will have to “share” the space with non-Club customers should the restaurant become extremely busy. Although we won’t have to put down a $50 or $100 deposit, we will no longer be able to reserve the room for meetings in advance. In other words, first come, first served. Since many of our members come from outside the area and could not be notified of a real-time venue change should another party or club claim the area first, the Club will begin looking for other meeting venues. The Secretary will contact the Colina de Oro Mexican restaurant in Plymouth for the June meeting. This venue was used for the March meeting and seemed a satisfactory alternate site.
Joint Meeting with NCCC/Insurance Coverage. The premium notice for the Club’s liability insurance has been received and it was moved and seconded that it be paid. When the new coverage notice has been received, a copy will be provided to Director Ken, K6TA, as proof of insurance for the Senior Center in Jackson, the venue for the 7 July joint meeting with the Northern California Contest Club. As of today’s date, only 14 NCCC members have indicated that they will attend the meeting. Rick, N6RK, will again provide the projector and cabling and Ken, K6TA, will arrange for tri-tips and chicken. The program is currently open, with a possible presentation from Ed, W0YK, on RTTY or Bob, W6RGG, on the recent Scarborough DXpedition.
Field Day 2007. Jack, KF6T, proposed an interesting plan for this year’s Field Day effort at Peddler Hill. Plans proposed included a possible Multi/Single environment, with various antenna configurations. Plans will be solidified at the 9 June meeting.
Visalia. President pro tem Dick, K6LRN, announced the Holiday Inn in Visalia will begin taking room reservations for the 2008 International DX Convention at 10:00 AM on Monday, 18 June 2007.
Achievements. In honor of her upgrade to General, Lila Regan, ex-KG6YSR, announced her new call K6BUD. Rick, N6RK was congratulated on his fifth place finish, Single Operator, Low Power, West Coast Region in the 2006 ARRL 160 Meter Contest, and Ken, K6TA (as P40TA), on his second place, Single Operator, High Power, DX and top score in South America, in the same contest.
Program. The J20RR/J20MM video made by I2YSB, on the recent Djibouti DXpedition, was shown.
Adjournment. Meeting was adjourned at 1:50 PM. Kay Anderson, K6KO, Secretary
UPCOMING EVENTS
Old Foothill Flea Market
1st Sunday of each month at DeAnza College, intersection of I280 and State Highway 85. The flea market is going under the name "ASVARA"
Livermore Swap Meet
(see website for new location), 7:00 AM to noon, all year. Talk in 147.045 from the west 145.35 from the east. Check at: larkswap.com