March 2006
Articles from the
March 2006 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The March issue of CQ features a brand new column … actually a revival of a column from the old Ham Radio magazine. In "The Weekender," Contributing Editor Phil Salas, AD5X, will offer a monthly project for some useful accessory or other circuit that the typical ham will be able to put together in a typical weekend. We welcome Phil to our staff -- he's a prolific writer whose articles you may have read in CQ and other ham publications -- and look forward to a long run for "The Weekender."
Our features this month start with "The Last Contest from D4B," in which contributor Henryk Kotowski, SM0JHF, looks at the possible reasons behind the decision by contesting superstar Al Teimurazov, 4L5A, to close his record-breaking station in Cape Verde after the 2005 CW weekend of the CQ World Wide WPX Contest … the last contest from D4B. Next, we have the results of that contest, in which Al, of course, won the single-op all-band category, beating the #2 finisher, W2GD operating P40W from Aruba, by nearly 5 million points! Al has set the bar very high for his fellow contesters and we will miss his presence on the bands.
Sticking with DX but moving to the other side of the world, George Varvitsiotes, K6SV, reports on his trip to Osaka, Japan, for the first Asia-Pacific DX Convention last November.
Next, we follow last month's article on telegraph sounders and plans for building an adapter to use with modern radios with another approach to the same challenge. Mark Spencer, WA8SME, goes to 21st century PIC microprocessor to link his radio with the 19th century technology of the sounder in "Morse Code the (New) Old Way."
Finally among our features, our new "Weekender" columnist, AD5X, shows you how he put together "A Compact and Effective 40-10 Meter Portable Station" that can be completely packed into a single carrying case.
Our columns this month start with "World of Ideas," in which Contributing Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, looks at some "Special Clubs and Groups in Amateur Radio," including QCWA, SOWP, FISTS, YLRL, RCA and FOC. If you want to know what all that alphabet soup stands for, you'll have to read Dave's column!
Next, "Math's Notes" editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, covers a variety of topics "to hopefully spark the experimenter in you." In "Washington Readout," column editor Fred Maia, W5YI, details the court case against Jack Gerritsen, briefly licensed as a ham in California, who faces federal prison time after being convicted on several counts of intentional interference. Next, AD5X starts out "The Weekender" column with an introduction to himself as well as a guide to handy tools and good sources for them.
In "Public Service," column editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, looks at the dangers of miscommunication, as seen in the recent West Virginia mine disaster, and at how hams can avoid getting into that predicament in their public service and emergency assignments. Next, Antennas Editor Kent Britain, WA5VJB, cleans off his desk by answering questions from readers about a variety of topics, and "Beginner's Corner" editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, looks at "the first contact" from both ends of the QSO.
K4TWJ returns with his "How it Works" column, following a slightly different path than usual this month and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of "Large vs. Small Rigs: Which is Best?" And speaking of large rigs, "Radio Classics" editor Joe Veras, K9OCO, visits with Andy Howard, WA4KCY, whose station full of classic AM rigs includes some that are bigger than he is (and Andy is 6'2")!!
Moving up to the "VHF-Plus" bands, VHF Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, reviews some of the better band openings on VHF and UHF in late 2005 and early 2006, including the DXing adventures of astronaut Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, who has managed to work all continents, all states and DXCC -- all on VHF and UHF -- from his orbiting perch aboard the International Space Station! Next, DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, looks at pile-ups on the low bands and shares some thoughts from "Uncle DX" on the topic of DXpeditions. Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, focuses this month on awards that emphasize low-power, or QRP, achievements; Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, looks at "Critical Times in the Life of a Contest," both before and during the competition; and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, previews expected conditions on the HF and VHF bands for March.
That's a brief look at what's coming up in the March issue of CQ magazine, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late February. For information on becoming a CQ subscriber, click the "Click Here to Subscribe" button at the top of this page.
Dumbing Down or Wising Up?
February 2006
Contest Calendar
On the Cover:
One of the antennas
from the former D4B station is raised at D44AC in Mindelo, Cape Verde.
(Cover photo by Henryk Kotowski, SM0JHF)
