May 2004
Articles from the
May 2004 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The May 2004 issue of CQ is your source for detailed information about the threat to ham radio posed by broadband over power lines, or BPL. We start with a “BPL Primer,” by Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, which is also available here on our website. Next, Washington Readout editor Fred Maia, W5YI, offers a detailed explanation of the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rule Making on BPL. Comments on this NPRM are due by May 3. In addition, “VHF-Plus” editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, shares space in his column with a very informative guide to reading, understanding and responding to the BPL NPRM, by Fred Jensen, K6DGW. We recommend that everyone read these articles and file informed comments with the FCC before the May 3 deadline.
Our cover story this month is a look at amateur radio in the island nation of Cape Verde, which was a ham radio backwater until its government began licensing foreign hams to operate there. Those visitors, in turn, discovered that Cape Verde is a nearly ideal site for operating DX contests, nailing down a string of recent victories and setting new world records in the process, including one in the 2003 CQ World Wide RTTY DX Contest, whose results are also in our May issue. The Cape Verde story, and our May cover photo, are by Henryk Kotowski, SM0JHF.
We’re very excited about a new series of articles we’re beginning in the May issue of CQ. Phil Anderson, W0XI (the man behind Kantronics in the 1980s and 90s), is designing all the pieces for a complete QRP (low power) station you can build yourself. He’ll provide circuit boards and parts at a nominal cost, and you’ll get to discover the fun of building a whole station, one piece at a time. Phil starts us off this month with a “Straight Key Keyer.” A what? How can that be? Well, you’ll just have to read the article!
Finally in our features for May, Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, reviews the SGC ADSP2 speaker with built-in digital signal processing for noise reduction.
Moving on to columns, we start out with “Washington Readout,” as discussed above, then Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, has an introduction to the newly-approved National Incident Management System (NIMS), which provides a regional and national coordination level to the Incident Command System, or ICS, which is being widely adopted by emergency service agencies. NIMS, says one federal emergency official, is “ICS on steroids.”
Next, “Math’s Notes” editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, discusses circuits that act like diodes; Mobiling Editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, provides an introduction to the benefits and enjoyment of mobile operating; and “World of Ideas” editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, offers not only his advice on HF mobiling but on taking care of your car as well! New Products Editor Karl Thurber, W8FX, looks at a variety of new goodies, including a receiver test oscillator and a master antenna controller.
In the “Beginner’s Corner,” editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, asks the not-so-rhetorical question, “I passed – now what?” and in “How it Works,” column editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, looks at the basics of HF propagation, while Antennas Editor Kent Britain, WA5VJB, discusses hidden antennas and ferrite beads (no, they don’t go on a necklace…).
In addition to the BPL commenting guide we mentioned earlier, “VHF-Plus” editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, tells us about yet another distance record up at 241 GHz (this is the next frontier for commercial wireless, folks, and once again, hams are blazing the trail) and a cycling event at which hams are planning to provide not only radio communications along the course, but 802.11 wireless connections with live webcams at each rest stop.
DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, offers highlights of the Charlotte Hamfest and Carolina DX Association dinner; Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, looks at DX and US awards; Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, asks “What’s your favorite contesting mode?” and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, looks at expected springtime propagation conditions on both HF and VHF.
That's a preview of what will be in the May issue of CQ, which should be in readers’ mailboxes and on newsstands in mid- April.
Looling past the QTH of “Pulu,” D44AC, to the city and harbor of Mindelo, Sao Vicente Island, Cape Verde.