October 2002
Articles from the
October 2002 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
The October issue of CQ is a QRP Special, featuring a variety of articles for those hams interested in the special challenges of low-power operating. (But don't worry, there's also plenty there even if you're not a QRPer.)
We start out with some QRP "musings," by Bob Locher, W9KNI, on how operating QRP re-ignited his passion for amateur radio. "Ham Radio is a hobby," Bob writes.
"That means that it is supposed to be fun, or at least rewarding in ways we consider worthwhile. When what you are doing in ham radio no longer meets that test, you should be trying to figure out why, and make changes until it is fun again. For me, operating was getting a little stale a few years back – I decided I needed to do something new to relight the fire..."
There's no area of ham radio where our tradition of building and modifying equipment is healthier than in the world of QRP. With that in mind, we offer no less than 5 build-it-yourself project articles this month.
One benefit to QRP beyond the fun and the challenge is that equipment can be relatively inexpensive compared to higher-power radios. If you can find a way to build your own power supply and antenna, as Tony Blalock, WN4BML, did -- and shares with us in this issue -- you have "The Poor Man’s Battery Supply and Portable Antenna for the FT-817," Tony's choice of QRP radio.
Tony's battery/antenna combo might fit real well inside Thomas Hart, AD1B's, "QRP Toolbox," a modified plastic toolbox that doubles as a remote operating position.
"I can drag the rig to the car and operate at a remote site with no need to assemble or disassemble anything (except perhaps the antenna)," writes AD1B. "All I have to do is open the top, connect the antenna, and I am ready to go on the air."
One feature that's often left out of some QRP rigs, either for reasons of space or cost, is a CW sidetone monitor. Daniel Metzger, K8JWR, solves your problem with his "Beep Box" project that not only gives you audio of your keying, but is powered for "free" by the RF in your antenna (don't worry, it "steals" only 1/10 of a watt).
Klaus Spies, WB9YBM, follows with yet another project, his "Single IC Crystal Tester and QRPp Transmitter." Our QRP Special continues with both of QRP Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ's, columns for the month. In his QRP column, Dave looks at "The FT-817 and QRP Treats," while he devotes his "World of Ideas" column to the fast-growing "HFPack" group, which promotes operating HF while backpacking and otherwise away from home and even your car. Plus, DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, has a guest column by "Uncle DX" titled "QRP DXing ... Revisited."
What about the rest of you? As we said earlier, don't worry. You won't be bored. Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, starts us out with his review of the West Mountain Radio "RigRunner," a power strip for 12-volt DC devices just like the one for your AC-operated gear (better, actually, but you'll have to read the review to find out how and why). Frequent CQ contributor Bob Shrader, W6BNB, gets us started on a two-part series titled "Electricity is Everywhere," in which he takes us down to the subatomic level to learn the mechanics of how electrons flow in a circuit. Even if you think you already know how electricity works, this is worthwhile reading. You might find out you didn't know as much as you thought you did!
We've also got our updated list of all-time records in the CQ World Wide DX Contest, courtesy of Fred Capossela, K6SSS, (with additional records here on the website), plus "It's Alive," by Scott Augsburger, WR0U, and David Wagner, WB0MCO, all about rehabilitating an old antenna and getting it back on the air as good as new.
Back to the projects, Phil Ferrell, K7PF, shows us how to build "An Automatic Power Supply," which is a combination AC supply, battery and charger that doubles as an emergency power supply when the lights go out! And for those of you who enjoy converting surplus military gear for ham use, Ben Nock, G4BXD, takes us on a tour of currently available "Military Manpack Radios."
Among our regular columns, "Math's Notes" Editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, lights up white LEDs for us; W5YI's "Washington Readout" offers part 2 of his series, "Amateur Radio - What You Need to Know;" Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, reports on the sad news that one of the nation's longest-running museum ham stations - W3AA at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia -- is being shut down after a half century of continuous operation. "Magic in the Sky" Editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, looks at ham radio and homeland security, and Beginners' Editor Peter O'Dell, WB2D, introduces us to the "Radio Police."
"VHF Plus" Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, reviews the surprising results of this summer's Perseids meteor shower -- the shower itself wasn't much to write home about, but increased activity due largely to the introduction of K1JT's WSJT digital meteor scatter software led to many more contacts being made than in previous, stronger, showers. While you're looking skyward, you can check out Satellite Editor Phil Chien, KC4YER's column on AMSAT-DL's plans to send a ham radio satellite to Mars (now, that's DX!); Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, reviews the 2002 World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) in Finland; and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, previews expected propagation conditions for the SSB weekend of the 2002 CQ World Wide DX Contest, October 26-27.
Finally, our October cover serves as a reminder to help introduce young people to amateur radio by organizing an operation with a scout group during the annual Jamboree on the Air on October 19-20, 2002.
Zero Bias
"Nobody Goes There Anymore. It's Too
Crowded."
(With apologies to Yogi
Berra, a look at the current state
of 2-meter repeaters.)
Musings on an Experiment in QRP
CQ World Wide DX Contest All-Time Records
What You've
Told Us
(Survey Results)
On the Cover
Steve White,
W4SNW, of Sarasota, Florida