October 2004
Articles from the
October 2004 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
Autumn marks the beginning of the winter DX season in the northern hemisphere, after the atmospheric noise of summer thunderstorms quiets down, and faraway signals can get through better on the HF ham bands. The October issue of CQ focuses on DX and DXing, starting with "Secrets of Top DXers," a guide to DXing success by D.E. "Dee" Logan, W1HEO. Next, Clarence Kerous, W9AAZ, reports on the Florida DXpedition Group's operation from San Andres as 5J0X during last year's CQ World Wide DX Contest SSB weekend, followed by our annual update of CQWW all-time records by Fred Capossela, K6SSS.
Our next feature slips out of DX mode with a look at "Fred Terman, Hams and World War II Radar Countermeasures," by C. Stewart Gillmor, W1FK. It's a fascinating look at the vital roles played by hams in the birth of electronic warfare, excerpted from Gillmor's just-published book, Fred Terman at Stanford. We then return to the present and the world of DXing with a report on the 7Q7MM DXpedition to Malawi by Richard Alisette, GU4CHY.
Back in June, Bob Shrader, W6BNB, wrote a fascinating article on long-delayed echoes -- and it generated so much fascinating feedback that Bob offers us a follow-up this month on other hams' experiences with this mysterious phenomenon. Next, Digital Editor Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, has a review of West Mountain Radio's RIGblaster Pro computer/transceiver interface for operating digital modes (and more), and on the topic of digital modes, Ed Sack, W3NRG, gives us a project for Speech Synthesis for PSK-31 (in receive only).
In our monthly columns, we start out with "Math's Notes," in which editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, takes us on "Another Visit to the Past," with tips on updating vintage equipment and modernizing their power supplies. "World of Ideas" Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, follows the same theme, with a column this month on "6L6 Resurrection - 2004 Style," a look at building a transmitter using the venerable 6L6 vacuum tube.
In "Washington Readout," Editor Fred Maia, W5YI, reports on the annual meeting of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators, which included a vote to replace two of the three members of the Question Pool Committee, the group that designs all of the amateur license exams. Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, reports on an emergency preparedness seminar led by Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, and how hams fit into the overall preparedness picture.
Digital Editor Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, answers some questions about his previous column on home computer networking, then tackles current amateur applications for EPROMs - erasable programmable read-only memory chips. Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, returns with his "QRP" (low power) column, focusing on some mini-reviews and tips for newcomers to low-power operating. "Magic in the Sky" Editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, reports on "the unreported Dayton," and talks about signs of new energy in the ham radio marketplace. Speaking of the ham radio marketplace, "What's New" editor Karl Thurber, W8FX, checks out a variety of new accessories for your ham shack and/or workbench.
DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, and Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, both tackle etiquette issues - Carl covers the problem of people interfering with DXpeditions and donations for DXpedition QSL cards, while John looks at "Being a Good Guest Operator." Staying on the topic of contesting, Beginner's Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, introduces the sport of radio contesting for new hams.
"VHF-Plus" Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, continues his coverage of July's massive sporadic-E openings on 6 meters, 2 meters and 222 MHz that provided hundreds of VHF-active hams with excellent DX opportunities.
Finally, Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, explores "CMEs and the Decline of a Solar Cycle," explaining how the data collected by several solar-observing satellites is giving us a whole new picture of how the sun "flips" its magnetic fields at the peak of a cycle and what happens afterwards. Also, Tomas is predicting "high normal" propagation conditions for the upcoming single sideband weekend of the CQ World Wide DX Contest on October 30th and 31st. Complete details will be in the October issue of CQ, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by mid-to-late September.
Tom Rauch, W8JI, of Barnesville, Georgia