May 2003
Articles from the
May 2003 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The May, 2003, issue of CQ is a Mobile Special with a focus on getting you on the air from just about anywhere. Over the last few years, a new generation of small radios has opened new horizons for mobile operating, not only on VHF and UHF, but on HF as well. Now, there's a new class of smaller HF mobile antennas -- motorized, screwdriver-type, antennas, small enough and light enough to be mounted on a trunk-lip mount -- no holes to drill or trailer hitches to attach. Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, introduces us to these new antennas in our lead feature. Next, Karl Schulte, WA2KBZ, tells you how to build your own "Simple Mobile Antennas for 10 and 15 Meters," using reduced-size helically-wound CB antennas. They also work on 6 meters.
Many hams who spend a lot of time on the air while on the road enjoy county-hunting, either collecting new ones or giving out rare counties to other county-hunters. In our May issue, Jim Labo, K0ZT, lays out a blueprint for finishing up CQ's USA Counties Award -- and explains how going mobile and "running counties" can help you in your own quest while helping others as well.
One of the newest FM dual-band mobile rigs on the market today is ICOM's IC-2720, and Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, has a review in this issue. Mobiling Editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, offers tips on mounting mobile radios, and Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, discusses operating marine-mobile.
Moving beyond our mobile special, we've got a sneak preview of new radios that will be featured at the Dayton Hamvention™ in mid-May, looking at gear introduced at the winter hamfests in the southeast. Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, looks at lessons learned from ham radio involvement in the search for debris from the shuttle Columbia. "Washington Readout" Editor Fred Maia, W5YI, gives us a detailed explanation of the six proposals on 40 meters that are currently on the table for this summer's World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-03). The ultimate goal is to separate hams from broadcasters on 7 MHz without hams losing any spectrum. The eventual decision may be any one of the six or something completely different.
"Math's Notes" Editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, introduces us to some new audio amplifier ICs; Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, begins his annual look at keys in "World of Ideas" and in his "How it Works" column, Dave discusses the basics of tubes, transistors and integrated circuits. Beginner's Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, offers a step-by-step guide on the right way to solder connectors onto coax. In this month's Contesting column, editor John Dorr, K1AR, asks whether packet spotting networks help or hurt contesting, and offers his own opinion as well. On the topic of contests, space limitations prevented us from bringing you the results of last year's CQ/RTTY Journal World Wide RTTY DX Contest in the May issue; it will appear in June, along with results of the 2002 CQ World Wide VHF Contest.
Wrapping up the May issue of CQ, "VHF-Plus" Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, brings us news of new distance records on the ultra-microwave band of 322 GHz; DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, covers a wide variety of DX-related activities scheduled for May; and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, looks at the Aurora Analysis Project as well as predictions of propagation conditions for the month of May.
On the Cover
Mic-Meister"
Bob Heil, K9EID, of Belleville, Illinois