November 2004
Articles from the
November 2004 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The November issue of CQ features an eclectic mix of articles, focusing on ham radio's past, present and future. Our cover story and lead feature is about the hurricane season that (seemingly) never ends. Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, begins a multi-part series of articles on ham radio response to the storms that brought death and destruction to many areas of the eastern United States this summer. And they're not done yet … as this is written in late September, a regenerated Ivan is battering Texas and Jeanne is heading toward the east coast of Florida. Hurricane season doesn't officially end until November 30, and it looks as though this season could be active right up until then.
Our November articles that focus on the future start with this month's "Zero Bias" editorial on "Regulation by Bandwidth." The ARRL has put out a draft proposal on switching from mode-based subbands (CW, voice, etc.), to bandwidth-based divisions (200 Hz, 500 Hz, 3 kHz, etc.). We think this is the right direction for our future, but feel the proposal itself needs more work—that's why it's a draft!
Next, we look at the future of amateur radio license exams, with an exclusive CQ interview with the man in charge of writing them, Jim Wiley, KL7CC, the new chairman of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators' Question Pool Committee. Our focus on the future continues with an article by Ron Olexa, KA3JIJ, on WiMax, the new wide area wireless networking standard that he feels will be the "next big thing" in amateur radio. Then we step even further into the future as Walter Bain, W4LTU, looks at the still-theoretical possibility of "Wireless Communication Without Radiated Power." We also look ahead to early next year, when we’ll be celebrating CQ magazine’s 60th anniversary with a special operating event and the return of the CQ Gang Award for contacting current and former CQ staffers and writers.
Then we put the time machine in reverse and head back to the days right after World War II ended, when John Hawkins, VK6HQ, and many other hams got on the air from postwar Germany, signing "D" and "DA" callsigns. John and others formed the "Ex-D Association," which is looking for additional members. Another past-to-present article is Contributing Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ’s, “World of Ideas” column, titled “More Old-Time Radio Fun.” It’s a follow-up on his October column about building transmitters based on the venerable 6L6 vacuum tube.
We return to the present with a CQ review of Heil Sound’s “Quiet Phone” noise-canceling headset mic, by Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, followed by a report from Sam Vigil, WA6NGH, on his first-time experiences in the 2004 U.S. Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships; a guide to “Breaking the Language Barrier” in international QSOs by Francis Gradijan, KD5HTB; and the rules for our 2005 CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest.
Looking at our columns for November (except Public Service and World of Ideas discussed above), we start out with two columns focusing on FM: Math’s Notes Editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, looks at the technical side of “FM Techniques,” while this month’s “How it Works” column by K4TWJ investigates “FM Toning” (CTCSS, DCS, etc.). Next, “Washington Readout” Editor Fred Maia, W5YI, answers commonly asked questions about licensing, and “Beginner’s Corner” Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, writes about how ham radio can lead to lasting friendships.
“Mobiling” Editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, discovers there really is such a thing as a “Voltswagon,” and fills us in on mobile antennas and power sources. “Antennas” Editor Kent Britain, WA5VJB, looks at how the way you mount a Yagi antenna can influence its performance, and “What’s New” editor Karl Thurber, W8FX, tells us about a new digital-to-analog converter, a stack switch, phantom antennas and more.
DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, and Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, both look at operating on 30 meters (as well as some 17-meter DXing) as we head toward the low end of the current sunspot cycle. On that same theme, Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, looks back to one of his best contesting experiences ever – during the last sunspot minimum in 1995! “VHF-Plus” Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, finishes up his three-part report on last summer’s incredible sporadic-E opening that went as high as 222 MHz, and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, offers a last-minute preview of expected band conditions during the two CQ World Wide DX Contest weekends (he predicts High Normal to Above Normal propagation during the SSB weekend on October 30 and 31; and during the CW weekend on November 27 and 28, he anticipates High Normal conditions on Saturday and Low Normal on Sunday).
Complete details will be in the November issue of CQ, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by mid-to-late October.
