January 2007
Articles from the
January 2007 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
Happy New Year! The January issue of CQ provides complete details of the FCC's decision to expand certain HF phone bands, along with results from the SSB weekend of the 2006 CQ World Wide WPX Contest and rules for the 2007 running of the "regular" WPX contest (SSB Mar 24-25, CW May 26-27), the WPX RTTY Contest (Feb. 10-11) and the 2007 CQ DX Marathon (all year). Also, nominations are open for 2007 for the CQ Amateur Radio, Contesting, and DX Halls of Fame.
We start out this month with the SSB results of the 2006 CQ WW WPX Contest. This year's running saw a more than 10% increase over 2005 in the number of logs submitted, along with three new world records and four new continental records, despite being at the bottom of the sunspot cycle. The CQ DX Marathon will enter its second year with a few changes. Primary among them is the inclusion of all amateur bands as sources of eligible contacts. A downloadable log form is finally available on the DX Marathon website, <www.dxmarathon.com>.
The FCC's "omnibus" rulemaking decision last October did more than increase the size of the phone (voice) bands on 75 and 40 meters. "Washington Readout" editor Fred Maia, W5YI, has details on all the different aspects of the ruling. One significant change is that Novices and Technicians with code credit will have access to all General Class CW frequencies on 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters when the rule changes take effect on December 15th. Recognizing that many hams who might want to try out these new privileges may not feel comfortable behind a code key. frequent CQ contributor Bob Shrader, W6BNB, offers tips for successful code contacts in his article, "CW Can Be Fun."
Among this month's columns, "Math's Notes" editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, gets us started with an article on temperature measurements -- a perfect companion to "How it Works" editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ's, column on keeping rigs cool.
Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, tackles a topic that's becoming a major source of controversy - the American Red Cross's new requirement that all employees and volunteers, including hams in some cases, must pass a background check and must authorize additional investigations, including credit checks. Bob also talks about ham radio's response to the earthquake in Hawaii and the 2006 Jamboree on the Air.
Beginner's Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, shares the secret of a new ham's greatest resource -- other hams! Contributing Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ's "World of Ideas" column this month features Part II of his "More Glowbug Glamour" series on building "new-vintage" tube rigs, and "Weekender" editor Phil Salas, AD5X, offers plans for an antenna switch for those "boatanchors" and other separate transmitters and receivers.
"Magic in the Sky" editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, has a challenge for anyone who thinks he or she is getting bored with ham radio -- try something new! And if you're having trouble thinking of something new to try in ham radio, Jeff's got a few suggestions -- more than 50 of them! -- for activities you might not have thought about. New Products Editor Karl Thurber, W8FX, has last-minute gift ideas plus some toys to consider once the holidays are over and the bills are paid.
DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, brings us up to date on a half-dozen major DXpeditions planned for the end of 2006 and the early months of 2007; Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, has info on a fleet of certificates offered by Britain's Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society, as well as the Virginia Quadricentennial Award, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the first permanent European settlement in North America, at Jamestown, in 1607.
In "VHF-Plus," column editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, explores (again) a possible link between thunderstorms and sporadic-E propagation. This time, though, the focus is on gravity waves produced by the same atmospheric changes that cause thunderstorms to develop. Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, looks at how contesting has changed in the past 50+ years, with some special perspective from Chas Weir, W8UM, who has the distinction of having operated in every CQ World Wide DX Contest since its inception in 1947. Finally, Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, brings us into a new year and (hopefully) a new solar cycle with the announcement of some changes in the format and content of his column.
That's a sampling of what's ahead in the January 2007 issue of CQ, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late December. Happy New Year from all of us at CQ!!
Remember - The CQ DX Marathon starts new this month! Everybody starts with a clean slate for the 2007 competition. For details on the 2007 Marathon or on submitting logs/scores for the 2006 Marathon, please go to <http://www.dxmarathon.com>.
A Lapful of Technology
Nominations Open for 2007 CQ Halls of Fame
2007 CQ DX Marathon Rules (all year)
2007 CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest Rules (Feb. 10-11)
2007 CQ World Wide WPX Contest
Rules (SSB Mar
24-25,
CW May 26-27)
December 2006
Contest Calendar
On the Cover:
Scott Johnson, WD0DAN, outside
his home in Bloomington, Minnesota
