August 2006
Articles from the
August 2006 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The August issue of CQ is full of hot news … from the FCC finally getting tough with a Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) system in Virginia that can't or won't resolve its interference problems to incredible band openings on 6 meters and the final word in the ongoing debate over whether to legalize encryption of passwords on Part 97 wireless networks and client names during disasters and drills – it's already legal in most cases!
But the focus of this issue, as it is every August, is the SSB results of the world's most popular ham radio contest, the CQ World Wide DX Contest. Did the falling sunspots affect point totals? Who (if anyone) set new records? How well did YOU do?
Our other regular August feature is "Hot Stuff at Hamvention®" - Editor W2VU's quick look at new products seen for the first time at last May's Dayton Hamvention®, with a few updates added from Ham-Com in Dallas. Next, we have Christmas in August, sort of … a story by Jimmy Walker, WA4ILO, on how his daughter was inspired by a CQ article to get her ham license, and her very dramatic way of letting him in on the news.
Turning to our August columns, we start with Public Service, in which editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, reports on preparations for hurricane season, hams responding to an earthquake in Indonesia and flooding in Thailand, and the evolving new role of MARS, the Military Affiliate Radio System. Next, Math's Notes editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, shows us how to build a self-powered, no-oscillator, receiver for aircraft transmissions, and Washington Readout editor Fred Maia, W5YI, reports on major new funding for one of the few "Amateur-Radio Friendly" BPL companies to build a huge system in Texas.
Digital Editor Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, reports in his column that it's time to end the debate on whether hams should be allowed to encrypt certain transmissions, such as passwords on digital networks or the names of clients/patients being helped by served agencies during emergencies – because it appears that this sort of encryption is already legal, for most amateur purposes. Turns out that purpose is the key.
We've got two columns this month dealing with mobile operating: Mobiling Editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, takes us on an antenna tour of cars parked at and near the Dayton Hamvention®, while World of Ideas editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, continues his series on "HF Mobile and Lovin' It." Beginner's Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, offers an introduction to ham radio swap meets (known in some parts of the country as flea markets); Weekender editor Phil Salas, AD5X, provides plans for an easy-to-build T/R (transmit/receive) switch for vintage "boatanchor" rigs, most of which are separate transmitters and receivers, requiring that the antenna be switched from one to the other each time you change from transmit to receive or vice versa.
QRP Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, shares plans from England for a "Pound Shop radio." Pound shops are the British equivalent of dollar stores in the US, and this project starts with a really cheap FM broadcast receiver and converts it into a ham band receiver! Next, "What's New" editor Karl Thurber, W8FX, looks at a variety of RF accessories, an adapter to add 30 and 80 meters to the tiny Elecraft KX-1 CW transceiver, a heavy-duty antenna tuner from MFJ, and much more.
Perhaps the biggest story of the month is covered by VHF-Plus editor Joe Lynch, N6CL: It's the absolute bottom of the sunspot cycle, yet this spring saw band openings on 6 meters that made you think it was the very top of the cycle! Joe's got reports on some of the really great 6-meter DX, such as Midwest US to Japan and Europe. It really is the "magic band!"
Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, presents awards for working special event stations and several different combinations of stations in Slovakia. DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, reminds us of the need to protect against lightning damage, particularly in the summer thunderstorm season; Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, takes a look at the current state of contesting, and finally, Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, discusses the impact on our ionosphere (and thus our radio signals) of the solar wind and coronal holes.
That's a look at the highlights of the August, 2006 issue of CQ, which should be on newsstands and in readers' mailboxes by late July.
"Turn On That Radio!"
September 2006 Contest Calendar
On the Cover:
Steve
Flood, KK7UV, of Missoula, Montana.
