October 2007
Articles from the
October 2007 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The October issue of CQ marks the beginning of a new series of "CQ Interviews" with senior government officials who share a background in amateur radio and who feel that ham radio continues to be an important tool for introducing young people to science and technology. We start this month with the recently-retired Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., N4OC. Ham radio, he told CQ in an exclusive interview, has "given me a great background in the technical side of the way the world works," and noted that even today, amateur radio "can provide some real fundamentals for kids in terms of science and technology that they can't get from their computes and cell phones."
October 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite. This event directly touched the lives of hundreds of today's hams, often sparking their own interest in careers in science and technology. "A Few Simple Beeps" recounts the experiences of a couple of dozen of the many hams who responded to our request to share reminiscences. The 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Space Age is also the topic of this month's "Magic in the Sky" column but Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, and this month's "Zero Bias" editorial by CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU.
Next, we have our annual update of all-time records in the CQ World Wide DX Contest, compiled by Fred Capossela, K6SSS -- remember to mark your dates for the 2007 CQWW -- SSB on October 27 and 28; CW on November 24 and 25 -- followed by some more 1950s nostalgia, a book review of Carl & Jerry - Their Complete Adventures from Popular Electronics - Volume 1: 1954-1956. The book, by "Carl & Jerry" author John T. Frye, W9EGV, is reviewed for CQ by George Ewing, WA8WTE.
Moving back to the present, Dan Moseson, KC2OOM, takes a look at a town in New Jersey that has incorporated amateur radio into its summer recreation program, in "Take Your Ham (Station) to Camp." In addition, Contributing Editor Phil Salas, AD5X, reviews the SPE Expert 1K-FA Solid State HF/50 MHz Power Amplifier; Stew Gillmor, W1FK, shares his experiences with "Woodpeckers, XYLs and Tall Wooden Antenna Masts," and Randy Schaaf, W9ZR, reports on the challenges of operating from Taiwan in "The DXers and the Dragon."
Among our October columns, "Math's Notes" editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, takes to the soapbox to encourage people to look "outside the box" in their ham radio operations and experiments; "Washington Readout" editor Fred Maia, W5YI, discusses the FCC's decision to deny three separate requests to change the rules on amateur radio station identification, and Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, reviews the summer's events, including updates on the ARRL Board of Directors' position on the new Red Cross background check requirements and the League's decision to hire an "Emergency Response and Preparedness Manager," Dennis Dura, K2DCD.
In "The Weekender," Phil Salas, AD5X, shares plans for "Packaging the Elecraft XG2 Receiver Test Oscillator;" "World of Ideas" editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, begins a two-part series on "One-Tubers from Yesteryear," and Digital Editor Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, looks at the mechanics of creating digital voice through a technology called "vocoding."
Beginner's Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, looks at connecting radios to the internet through IRLP (the Internet Radio Linking Project); K4TWJ dedicates his QRP (low-power) column to "Fun and Affordable QRP Gear," and our new "What's New" editor, Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, looks at a variety of new products including Elecraft's K3 transceiver, and introduces a new feature, "The Amateur Radio Website of the Month."
VHF-Plus Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, looks back at the launch of Sputnik 1 a half century ago and the possibility of a second "SuitSat" launch from the International Space Station to mark the anniversary. In addition, he reports on huge VHF band openings during late July and early August. Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, introduces us to a series of awards from Portugal's national amateur radio society, the REP; DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, reports on upcoming contest DXpeditions and a young DXer named Emily Bishop, W6EMB (who was featured on our September cover); Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, offers tips on finding fellow contesters if you don't live near an established contest club, and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, looks ahead to expected conditions for the SSB weekend of the CQ World Wide DX Contest on October 27 and 28.
That's a brief look at what's coming up in the October issue of CQ magazine, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late September. For information on becoming a CQ subscriber, click the "Click Here to Subscribe" button at the top of this page.
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CW & SSB
On The Cover
Admiral Edmund
P. Giambastiani, Jr., N4OC, makes his final official visit to Baghdad before
retiring as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. / Inset: Sputnik-1
launched the Space Age 50 years ago this month.