July 2003
Articles from the
July 2003 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The July issue of CQ is an Antenna Special, featuring an array of articles covering wire antennas, mobile antennas and multiple antenna arrays.
We start with "the story behind the story" of the new book, Hello World; A Life in Ham Radio, that's getting a lot of attention in places like the New York Times and National Public Radio. Bob Hopkins, WB2UDC, explains how he became the book authors' ham radio mentor. (Speaking of books, CQ introduced seven new books at the Dayton Hamvention®. See below.) Since it's summertime, we next go to camp with a group of east Tennessee hams in "Ham Radio Goes to Scout Camp," by Dick Wolf, WI8X.
John Basilotto, W5GI, starts off our Antenna Special with his "W5GI Multiband Mystery Antenna," a wire antenna for 80-thru-6 meters that confounds antenna software but works real well anyway. Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, shows us how to boost our mobile signals and operating range by physically boosting the mobile antenna; and CQ Worked All Zones Manager Paul Blumhardt, K5RT, reviews the StackMaster from Array Solutions. We wrap up our antenna articles with Part 2 of "WiFi for Hams," in which John Olexa, KA3JIJ, explains how to set up wireless network nodes on 2.4 GHz, for either Part 97 amateur or unlicensed Part 15 use. To download figures mentioned in the article click here (excel file).
Next, we introduce the latest inductees into the CQ Halls of Fame -- 15 new members of the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, 2 new members of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame, and one inductee into the CQ DX Hall of Fame. We've also got the results of the 2002 CQ and RTTY Journal RTTY WPX Contest, as well as the rules for the 2003 CQ / RTTY Journal World Wide RTTY DX Contest.
Among our columns for July, WA2NDM introduces us to "super capacitors" in his "Math's Notes" column; Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, covers ham radio's response to the tornadoes that swept across the middle of America in early May; Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, finishes his Microphone Mania series in "World of Ideas;" "Magic in the Sky" editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, titles his column "It's a Big Planet," and Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, looks at "That Brand New Rig" in "Beginner's Corner."
K4TWJ covers amplifier circuits in July's "How it Works;" Karl Thurber, W8FX, checks out antennas and accessories in "What's New?" and "Washington Readout" editor Fred Maia, W5YI, fills us in on the important details of the FCC's plans for something called "Broadband over Power Lines," or B-P-L, which is also discussed in this month's "Zero Bias" editorial. It's a new - and big - source of concern for our frequencies.
In July's DX column, editor Carl Smith, N4AA, tells us about The QSL Managers Society; Contest Editor John Dorr, K1AR, pays tribute to Ed Bissell, W3AU, who recently became a Silent Key. VHF-Plus Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, covers VHF conferences and other matters in this month's column, while Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, answers some common questions about the USA-CA, or USA Counties Award. Finally, Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, guides us through the ups and downs of summertime propagation.
CQ Introduces Seven New Books
Seven new titles were introduced by CQ at the 2003 Dayton Hamvention®, including the first four books in a new ham radio magazine anthology series. The anthology books, all containing original articles from ham radio magazine, cover "Antennas - 1968-1972," "Antennas - 1973-1975," "Homebrewing Techniques," and "Test Equipment and Repair Techniques." Additional volumes are planned for release later this year.
In addition, CQ has published the second edition of Heathkit: A Guide to the Amateur Radio Products, by Chuck Penson, WA7ZZE. This new and updated edition includes 30 additional ham rigs, a new section on Heathkit CB products and additional information that has become available since the original was published.
Also coming out in its second edition, with a slightly new title, is Understanding, Building and Using Baluns and Ununs, by Jerry Sevick, W2FMI. This fully updated manual for the antenna designer includes a new section on theory and a variety of other updates to the original Building and Using Baluns and Ununs. A separate volume, The Short Vertical Antenna and Ground Radial, also by Dr. Sevick, covers both theoretical and practical aspects of designing and building a short vertical antenna system.
Finally, CQ has become a dealer for RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain) books and certain titles from Master Publishing, including the Gordon West license manuals, and Getting Started in Electronics, a complete electronics course in 128 pages, by noted writer Forrest Mims III. All of these titles are available online in the CQ Store, or may be ordered toll-free by phone (800-853-9797, 9-5 eastern, M-F), or by mail using order forms found in each issue of CQ magazine.
Ham Radio Power Companies and FCCs" (No, that's not a typo)
Rules for the 2003 CQ / RTTY Journal World Wide RTTY DX Contest.
On the Cover
This pair
of stacked 18-element Log Periodic antennas belonging to Chuck O'Neal, K1KW,
of Bolton, Massachusetts, is one of the largest arrays of its type in the
world.