January 2003
Articles from the
January 2003 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
Happy
Holidays to everyone
from all of us at
CQ!
Happy New Year 2003! We're going to start out our highlights a little differently this month, highlighting a bit of good news about amateur radio:
According to FCC licensing data, the number of licensed hams in the United States hit a 5-year high in October, finishing out the month just below 685,000 (684,998, to be exact). License renewals are also up, and over 20,000 new licenses have been issued in the past 12 months. In addition, there has been significant growth among General and Extra Class hams - the number of Extras broke 100,000 for the first time this October - but interestingly, there has been very little growth in the number of Technician Class hams. This could mean that new Techs are just barely making up for the number of Technician dropouts, but it could also mean that upgrading is becoming more and more popular. Looking at the growth among Generals and Extras, this last possibility appears to be the most likely. (Statistics courtesy of Joe Speroni, AH0A)
On to the January issue of CQ -- we get things rolling this month with the single sideband results of the 2002 CQ World Wide WPX Contest, then take you on the road in "Travels with CQ," sharing photos and stories from some of the hamfests and other events we've visited in 2002.
Next, Steve Ireland, VK6VZ, takes us back in time with the story of Alf Treager, VK5AX, and how he used his ham ingenuity in the early part of the 20th century to develop an emergency medical system for the Australian Outback, a system that still operates today, as the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The article's called "Pedal Power" and you'll have to read it to learn the connection between pedals, radios, and flying doctors. Next, Don Daso, K4ZA, brings us a humorous look at the life of a typical ham in "Things Not Found in the Handbook."
Among our January columns, Antennas Editor Arnie Coro, CO2KK, starts us off with some antennas you can build to replace your rubber duck and greatly improve your handheld radio's signals. "Magic in the Sky" Editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, calls for the development of industry-wide standards for digital voice and spread-spectrum communication. Bringing digital audio into the mainstream of ham radio is also a topic that I discuss in my "Zero Bias" editorial.
Next, "Washington Readout" Editor Fred Maia, W5YI, reports on the apparently successful "rehabilitation" of two high-profile hams who'd had their licenses pulled -- the FCC is now ready to let them back on the radio. Amateur television in public service is the topic of our "Public Service" column this month, and of our cover photo. In "Beginner's Corner," we meet the column's new editor, Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, and Wayne tells us all to go fly a kite -- literally. Actually, he's comparing the excitement and joy of kite-flying to that of amateur radio. Interesting reading. "World of Ideas" Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, shows us how to build "spiderweb coils" for vintage-style radios. In "Math's Notes," WA2NDM looks at some early transistor devices, and "What's New" Editor Karl Thurber, W8FX, gives us a preview of new goodies for the new year.
K4TWJ tackles the issue of power line noise in his "How it Works" column; VHF-Plus Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, offers an initial look at the initially disappointing Leonids meteor shower. The "meteor storm of the century," it wasn't. DXing Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, brings up the issue of DXpeditions by so-called "freebanders," especially those who also happen to be hams and who use their ham licenses to get permission for what often turns out to be an illegal operation. Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, looks at the increasing cost of getting QSL cards for various awards; Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, offers Part 2 of his Contesting for Newcomers series, and finally, Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, asks for reader input on how well propagation predictions match up with reality. Speaking of columns, you'll find a new layout on all of our columns, starting this month.
Finally, we’ve got the rules for the 2003 CQ/RTTY Journal RTTY WPX Contest, our annual announcement that we're accepting nominations again for the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame; and that DX and contest clubs may nominate candidates for the CQ DX and Contest Halls of Fame.
Details will be in January issue of CQ, which should be in readers’ mailboxes and on newsstands in mid-December. Best wishes to all of our readers and other visitors to our website from all of us at CQ for a happy holiday season and a happy, peaceful 2003.
Zero Bias
Looking Toward the
(Digital) Future
Rules: 2003 CQ/RTTY Journal RTTY WPX Contest
Hall of Fame Announcement
and Form
On the Cover
The Sarasota
Emergency Radio Club uses amateur television in a Florida disaster drill.