March 2003
Articles from the
March 2003 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
(AP/NASA)
Crew of the Columbia
from left,
Mission Specialist
David Brown, Commander Rick Husband,
Mission Specialists Laurel Clark,
Kalpana Chawla
and Michael Anderson,
Pilot William McCool and
Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon.
In Memoriam
Space Shuttle Columbia
The amateur radio community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Columbia and her crew of seven, three of whom were licensed amateurs. Hams have had a long and special relationship with the shuttle program, and with Columbia in particular. It was from Columbia, nearly 20 years ago, that Astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL, made the first amateur radio contacts from space. We extend our condolences to the families of the crew members.
The March issue of CQ was at the printer when Columbia was lost on February 1. However, an article already planned -- "The Nine-Minute QSO" -- happens to be about planning and making a contact with Columbia, and our friends at American Press were able to hold the presses long enough for us to insert a brief memorial message. We will have full coverage in the April CQ of amateur radio's special link to Columbia and of ham radio operators' assistance in the search for debris. - The editors
On the Cover
Dr.
Robert Dabdoub, KB5AVY, of Metairie, Louisiana
Every month, CQ takes you inside different facets of amateur radio, but this month ... this month, we take you inside your radio itself ... deep inside ... with a series of incredible microscopic photos of bacteria, fungi and oxidation on various electronic parts. They're not only amazing, they're beautiful. Dr. Robert Dabdoub, KB5AVY, who is a geneticist and a pioneer in photomicrography, shows us not only the art in everyday items, but also the effects on components of such things as greasy fingers and coffee spills. It's a fascinating look at what we call "The Unseen World Inside Your Radio."
While we've got the cover off your radio, "How it Works" Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, takes a somewhat broader look -- on a component level rather than a molecular one -- at the basic components of electronic circuits, what they do and how they work. It's stuff you may have memorized for your license exam but never really understood.
A big portion of the March CQ is devoted to the CW results of last year's CQ World Wide WPX Contest, where you build up points by contacting stations with as many different callsign prefixes as you can. We've also got an excellent analysis by Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, of why 10 meters didn't live up to its potential during last year's WPX CW contest. The short answer is a Traveling Ionospheric Disturbance. The long answer is Carl's article, fascinating reading for anyone who's interested in how propagation works.
Our March issue also has a review of Ten-Tec's new Argonaut-Five transceiver, the latest in a very successful line of QRP, or low-power, radios from Tennessee-based Ten-Tec. Plus, as noted at the top, we've got a story called "The Nine-Minute QSO," by Bob Hopkins, WB2UDC. It's about the trials and tribulations -- and ultimate success -- of setting up a school contact with astronauts in orbit. Bob regularly uses the story of this contact as a recruiting tool for new hams.
In our columns this month, we start out with WA2NDM's very useful guide to coaxial cables and connectors. You might want to cut this one out for reference. Then, Antennas Editor Arnie Coro, CO2KK, looks at antenna tuners and wonders how they got that name because they don't actually tune your antenna. Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, wonders whether you're a member of a COOP -- a government acronym for Continuity Of Operations Plan. Washington Readout Editor Fred Maia, W5YI, takes a look at several ham-related petitions for rulemaking now before the FCC and waiting for Commission action. Karl Thurber, W8FX, takes his monthly look at new goodies for your ham shack, and Beginners' Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, asks the musical question, "Is it really broken?"
World of Ideas Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, shows you how to build your own weather radar. VHF-Plus Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, looks at the growth in wireless computer networking - most of which happens on bands shared by hams - and wonders if the technology, based on the so-called 802.11b protocol, is a "friend or foe" of amateur radio. DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, takes us "where the action is," with a look at upcoming DXpeditions; and Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, answers a question on county-hunting and brings us news of awards from around the world.
Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, shares his story of operating the CQ World Wide DX Contest from the other side of the pileups -- last year, he was one of the operators at PJ2T in Curacao. Finally, Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, has his usual predictions plus a mini-review of WinCAP Wizard 3, a propagation prognostication program for your computer.