March 2007
Articles from the
March 2007 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The March issue of CQ helps usher us into a new era in ham radio history, one in which knowing Morse code is no longer a requirement for any class of U.S. amateur license. The FCC's new rules take effect February 23, and this issue provides a comprehensive look at the Report & Order in "Washington Readout" and an introduction to Technicians' new HF privileges in "Beginner's Corner."
Our lead feature, though, is a CQ Interview with NASA Administrator Michael Griffin - who's also NR3A - on ham radio's influence in his life as well as the ongoing relationship between ham radio and the manned space program. Griffin was interviewed by CQ contributor Bob Hopkins, WB2UDC, and Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU.
Next, we have the CW results of the 2006 CQ World Wide WPX Contest. Despite being at the bottom of the sunspot cycle, activity was high, since "contests make their own propagation." Getting on the air even when you can't have a station at home is the topic of our next article, "Taking Your Hamming on the Road," by Larry Arave, W7ALA. A different aspect of this same topic is the subject of this issue's "Zero Bias" editorial by W2VU.
The art of homebrewing is alive and well, although you won't find too many tubes or discrete components in modern ham gear. Dennis Nendza, W7KMV, introduces us to the BasicX-24® microprocessor, an easy-to-program chip with lots of possible ham applications. Finally among our features, Pete Kemp, KZ1Z, offers an introduction to slow-scan TV, a mode that's celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, yet has found new life in the world of computers and digital video.
Among our columns, we start out with "Washington Readout" and "Beginner's Corner" (see above), followed by tips on "Inexpensive Lightning Protection" from "Math's Notes" editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM. Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, highlights upcoming events to mark the centennial of the Scouting movement and brings us an update on the Red Cross background check controversy he first covered in January. Next, "World of Ideas" editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, finishes his two-part series on "Emergency Preparedness and You," focusing this month on basic radio equipment needed to get through an emergency or disaster.
We continue our recent focus on low-band operating (since they're at their best at the bottom of the sunspot cycle) with this month's "Antennas" column, in which column editor Kent Britain, WA5VJB, explores small loop receive antennas for 80 and 160 meters. "Weekender" editor Phil Salas, AD5X, responds to reader mail and has an easy project for getting meter probes into hard-to-reach places. New Products Editor Karl Thurber, W8FX, goes digital in this month's "What's New" column, checking out a digital display for vintage radios, a digital RF wattmeter and a digital rotor controller, among other new products in the CQ spotlight.
"VHF-Plus" editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, takes us into orbit this month with news of the launch of Pehuensat-1, the first university-built satellite from Argentina, along with updates on the CubeSats launched last December from the shuttle Discovery and reports of record-setting QSOs on various microwave bands. Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, completes his two-part series on awards from JARL, the Japan Amateur Radio League; DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, continues his recent "behavior modification" efforts toward the minority of DXers who are rude and selfish on the air, making things more difficult and unpleasant for the rest of us; Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, offers tips on "Hunting for Multipliers" in this month's column, and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, covers the ongoing debate over competing predictions for the coming sunspot Cycle 24, which is expected to begin sometime this year (if it hasn't started already), and to peak in 2010-11. Some experts think it could be one of the biggest ever.
That's a sampling of what's ahead in the March 2007 issue of CQ, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late February.
Remember - The SSB weekend of the 2007 CQ WPX Contest is on the weekend of March 24-25.
February 2007
Contest Calendar
On the Cover:
A nighttime launch of
Shuttle Discovery, overseen by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin (inset)
