December 2004
Articles from the
December 2004 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
December's issue of CQ starts with our review of the major points of the FCC's decision on Broadband over Power Lines, or BPL. The full Report and Order had not been released by press time, but it is available now (all 86 pages of it) at <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/ FCC-04-245A1.pdf>. ["Washington Readout" Editor Fred Maia, W5YI, will have a detailed look at the specifics contained in the Report and Order in his January column.]
The December issue continues with "Listening to Meteors," by Bob Shrader, W6BNB, offering a theory on how it's sometimes possible to hear a meteor as you see it swooshing through the sky some 60 miles up. We've also got complete details of the upcoming CQ/60 on-air activity and award program, in celebration of CQ magazine's 60th anniversary in print, and results of the 2004 CQ World Wide 160 Meter Contests.
Our columns this month start out with "Math's Notes," in which column editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, looks at ways to make use of "wall wart" power supplies for which the original product is long gone. Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, follows with the conclusion of his two-part report on Hams and the Hurricanes of 2004, and Digital Editor Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, checks in with a column on ham radio and VoIP, or Voice over Internet, with a particular focus on Echolink.
"Washington Readout" Editor Fred Maia, W5YI, offers a guide for hams to complying with the FCC's rules on RF safety - an issue that confuses many of us. As noted above, the FCC's ruling on BPL had not been released by press time, so Fred will cover that in detail in his January column.
Next up is the "What's New?" column by Karl Thurber, W8FX, looking at last-minute goodies for the holiday shopping season. Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, is also in the holiday shopping mood in this month's "World of Ideas" column. An important note: This month's "World of Ideas" column includes a correction and modification to the 6L6 transmitter circuit Dave described in his October column. We recommend that you read that before building the transmitter.
Beginner's Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, offers some "rainy day projects," or for those of us who relate December to snow, "snow day projects." Radio Classics Editor Joe Veras, K9OCO, looks back at "DX in the '60s," and VHF-Plus Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, provides additional information and insight on Broadband over Power Lines.
QRP Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, offers some equipment mini-reviews for the holiday shopper. DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, reports that some of the countries at the top of most DXers' "most wanted" lists will be on the air in December and January. Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, looks at the question of what log changes are and aren't proper once a contest ends; Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, explores the Radio Amateurs of Canada's series of operating awards, and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, reports on findings that indicate the bottom of the current sunspot cycle may come as much as a year earlier than expected. Finally, we have our Annual Index of articles that have appeared in CQ during 2004.
That's a preview of the December 2004 issue of CQ, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late November. Happy Holidays to everyone from all of us at CQ!
Complete Rules:
The
"CQ/60"
Operating
Activity and
the
"CQ Gang Award"
On the Cover: Could This Man be Santa Claus? To many hams, the answer is yes!