November 2006
Articles from the
November 2006 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The November issue of CQ is highlighted by a report from Africa by the Voodoo Contest Group on their trip to Mali to operate the 2005 CQ World Wide DX CW Contest as TZ5A. Author Lee Finkel, KY7M/TZ6LF, writes that the trip outside of the contest was at least as exciting as the contest itself. Next, Contributing Editor Phil Salas, AD5X, reviews the new ICOM IC-7000 HF/VHF/UHF transceiver, and frequent contributor Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, begins a two-part series on "160 Meters: A Great Place to be for the Next Couple of Years." We've also got the rules for the 2007 CQ World Wide 160-Meter DX Contest, coming up next January 27/28 (CW) and February 24/25 (SSB).
Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, reviews the Rola Adventure System hitch-mounted storage box for carrying radio gear on a trailer hitch. "Math's Notes" columnist Irwin Math, WA2NDM, offers plans for building an active antenna; and Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, brings us up to date on NIMS - the National Incident Management System - in which virtually all emergency responders (including hams) need to become certified.
"Beginner's Corner" editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, discusses the need for even new hams to become recruiters, to help fill the nation's "critical need for trained communicators and technical experts." Next, "World of Ideas" editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, continues his look at the growing interest in open-chassis tube radios with "More Glowbug Glamour;" "Washington Readout" editor Fred Maia, W5YI, answers readers' questions about the vanity callsign system and other topics; K4TWJ returns with his "How it Works" column, looking this time at choosing the right earphones/headset; and "Weekender" editor Phil Salas, AD5X, continues his look at measuring the performance of HF receivers.
Antennas Editor Kent Britain, WA5VJB, looks beyond the dipole formula every ham needs to memorize to pass the license exam to why a half-wave dipole generally is not a half wavelength long at its center frequency. Mobiling Editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, shares the best (and worst) entries to his caption contest for the photo he shot on the way home from Dayton of a car carrying at least a dozen different antennas. New Products Editor Karl Thurber, W8FX, looks at his usual variety of goodies, including a new amateur television (ATV) transmitter, antenna/RF switches and lightning protection devices; and DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, looks ahead to Solar Cycle 24, which is being predicted to be one of the most active in the past half century.
Next, Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, focuses on "Maximizing Your Phone Contesting Skills," while Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, answers questions about CQ's USA-CA (Counties) award and looks at a variety of other awards from around the world. VHF-Plus Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, writes about the launch failure of the rocket carrying more than a dozen ham radio "CubeSats" into space, including information about each of the lost satellites and a look at the future of the CubeSat program. Our cover this month features Professor David Filmore, W9DF, of Purdue University, whose students are working on a CubeSat for a future launch. Finally, Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, issues a personal invitation to CQ readers to join the "PropNET 31 Project," which collects signals from PSK31 stations, brings them together on the internet and displays active paths on a computer map display.
That's a brief look at the November 2006 issue of CQ magazine, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late October, just in time, we hope, for the SSB weekend of the 2006 CQ World Wide DX Contest on October 28 and 29. For information on becoming a CQ subscriber, click the "Click Here to Subscribe" button at the top of this page.
A Misguided Guide for New Hams
Rules, 2007 CQ World Wide 160 Meter Contests
November 2006
Contest Calendar
On the Cover:
Dr. David Filmer,
W9DF, of Purdue University, holds the frame and antenna of a "CubeSat"
satellite his students are building; plus, President Bush honors Greg
Ybarra, N8HXQ, for ham service.
