April 2006
Articles from the
April 2006 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The April issue of CQ starts out with a report on experiments that solved a long-standing DXing mystery. In "Backscatter Over the Atlantic," VHF authority Emil Pocock, W3EP, demonstrates how backscatter actually works, explains why some backscatter signals reflected from the middle of the ocean don't make it all the way across, and shows us how to use a popular meteor scatter computer program to measure the distance to any radio scattering region.
Next, Clarke Homoly, W0RPC, offers a project article that isn't really a project article … "A Simple (as You Want to Make It) Junk-Box Station" is intended to get you started on building your own radio, but leaving the details up to your imagination and the contents of your junk box.
We then move to a CQ review of AOR's ARD-9000 digital voice modem. CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, reports that the portability of the "little brother" of the ARD-9800 has opened up the field of digital voice to a whole new group of hams. Next up are the results of the 2005 CQ World Wide VHF Contest, by Contest Director John Lindholm, W1XX, and our annual feature by the esteemed Professor Emil Heisseluft, this year focusing on "biologically based self-assembly kits for the radio amateur," which Heisseluft dubs "The Next-Generation 'Heathkit'."
Finally among our features this month, Joe Moell, K0OV, reports on upcoming "foxhunting," or amateur radio direction-finding, events including the 2006 CQ National Foxhunting Weekend in May, the sixth U.S. ARDF Championships in North Carolina in early April, and the ARDF World Championships coming up this September in Bulgaria. (We'll have results of the 2005 CQ National Foxhunting Weekend in our May issue.)
Our columns this month start with "Math's Notes," in column editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, explores "A Technique for Recovering Very Weak Signals." "Washington Readout" editor Fred Maia, W5YI, looks at "The Ins and Outs of Vanity Callsigns," a timely topic since the first of the latest round of vanity calls -- issued in 1996 -- are about to come due for renewal. Next, "World of Ideas" editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, starts his annual look at distinctive code keys, "bugs" and paddles, which are, as he points out, "unquestionably the most popular aftermarket accessory ever made" for a ham station.
New columnist Phil Salas, AD5X, gets us going on his first "Weekender" project, a fast-charge circuit for the popular MFJ-259 antenna analyzer. This month's "Public Service" column, by Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, looks at the reasons for hams to get involved in public service and emergency communications, and W2VU reports on a visit to the 2006 International Disaster Management Conference in February.
Next, "Beginner's Corner" editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, features a "learn by doing" public service event, the Baker (CA) to Las Vegas Challenge Cup Relay - an annual 120- mile race through the California and Nevada deserts. QRP Editor K4TWJ takes a look at some popular low-power transceivers, including various versions of Ten-Tec's Argonaut and a one-board transceiver kit called "Miss Mosquita."
Digital Editor Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, covers a variety of topics this month, including building himself a new computer, the ARRL's "regulation by bandwidth" proposal, and the dilemma of the FCC's rule against encryption in amateur transmissions, particularly in regard to disaster communication, and more. Jeff Reinhardt's "Magic in the Sky" column this month features "Trash, Treasures, and a Whole Lot of Fun" at AA6JR's club auction, and New Products Editor Karl Thurber, W8FX, looks at a high-end signal generator from Novatech, an off-center fed 6-band antenna from Alpha Delta, and much more, in this month's "What's New" column.
The recent 3Y0X DXpedition to Peter I was on the mind of "VHF-Plus" editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, since the operations included several moonbounce contacts and even one QSO with the International Space Station. In the aftermath of that DXpedtion, DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, offers advice on operating in pileups, with a particular emphasis on etiquette and politeness to our fellow hams, something that apparently was in very short supply during the 3Y0X operation.
Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, shares "The Ten Commandments of an Awards Custodian" for the benefit of anyone running or considering running an award program. Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, offers "Contest Preparation Tips" in this month's column, and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, looks at what to expect on the bands in April.
That's a brief look at what's coming up in the April issue of CQ magazine, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late March. For information on becoming a CQ subscriber, click the "Click Here to Subscribe" button at the top of this page.
The Communications Experts
On the Cover:
Antique radio collector Ron Lawrence, KC4YOY, at his circa-1930 station in
Wesley Chapel, North Carolina. (Cover photo by Larry Mulvehill, WB2ZPI)
