October 2003
Articles from the
October 2003 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
Understanding the nature of power line interference is becoming more and more important with the FCC's push to authorize Broadband over Power Lines, or BPL, high-speed internet service. Bill Johnston, K5ZI, leads off our October issue with a tutorial on the "Fundamentals of Power Line RFI," in which he explains that the arcs responsible for most power line interference are essentially miniature lightning bolts. Speaking of BPL, if you haven't had a chance to listen to the recording made by the ARRL of noise levels while driving through B-P-L test areas, you really need to, so you'll understand what we're dealing with. It's one thing to say, "S-9 noise no matter where you tune," it's something else again to actually hear it. We have a link to the ARRL's video of its tests here on our website. Anyone interested in HF radio needs to see and hear this.
Back to the October issue of CQ, we have more big news in the various petitions that have been filed with the FCC to eliminate Morse code testing for US ham licenses, now that the international rules have been changed to leave the decision up to each country. As of now, at least seven countries have dropped their code test requirements or announced that they're going to. We've got details in Fred Maia's "Washington Readout" column for October and in our news column.
Next, we go traveling with Henryk Kotowski, SM0JHF, who takes us on a tour of "Ham Radio in the Azores," and Brian Campbell, VE3MGY, introduces us to the seemingly-impossible: QRP, or low-power, contesting on 160 meters, a band where anything under a kilowatt is often considered low power. But Brian's running four-and-a-half watts and holds the QRP world record in the CQ World Wide 160 Meter Contest. Also on the topic of QRP, Bruce Prior, N7RR, reviews the Small Wonder Labs Rock-Mite transceiver in this issue.
We also have our annual review of all-time records for the CQ World Wide DX Contest, plus one more equipment review -- Dan Richardson, K6MHE, takes a look at the NCS Multi-Switcher, a very convenient device for routing multiple audio sources to multiple radios. We follow that with an article about connections of a different sort -- connections that you can make between ham radio and other interests in your life. Garry Cameron, VE7ACM, shows us how ham radio has made his other hobbies even more enjoyable. Finally among our features for this month, Ron Nott, K5YNR, explains the basics of resonance -- and it's not just for newbies. Many experienced hams, for example, may not know that there are two different kinds of resonance. Ron explains it all.
Moving on to our columns, in "Math's Notes," WA2NDM follows up last month's column on temperature measurement with one on temperature control. Digital Editor Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, digs into software defined radios; and QRP Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, reviews the gathering of low-power enthusiasts at HamCom in Dallas. Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, fills in as guest public service columnist this month with an introduction to personal locator beacons, personal versions of aircraft emergency locator transmitters which can be used by individuals out beyond the reach of normal communications. He says hams may be asked to help track down activated beacons.
"Magic in the Sky" columnist Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, looks at what might happen to ham radio now that Morse code exams are no longer an international requirement. K4TWJ's "World of Ideas" column this month features Part 2 of his annual look at different and interesting code keys, starting with a different and interesting photo. No further comment.
Beginner's Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, offers a tutorial on using repeater autopatch, something that's often overlooked in these days of nearly-universal cell phones. But when the lights went out in the northeast earlier this month, repeaters with emergency power and autopatch provided hams with telephone contact even though cell phones were useless.
New Products Editor Karl Thurber, W8FX, introduces us to some new weather instruments from Peet Brothers and the newly relaunched AOR AR-One receiver. DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, brings us up to date on fall DXpeditions; Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, answers questions about record-keeping for CQ's USA-Counties Award; and Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, looks at "What Makes a Great Contester?"
Going back to broadband over power lines, VHF-Plus Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, explains how BPL will threaten VHF ham bands as well as the HF spectrum. And we wrap up with Propagation Editor Tomas Hood's prediction of above-normal conditions for the upcoming single sideband weekend of the CQ World Wide DX Contest on October 25th and 26th.
Ken Munford, N7KM, of Cedar City, Utah