September 2004
Articles from the
September 2004 issue of CQ posted on our
website include:
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Lots of hams complain that there aren't enough young people coming into amateur radio today, but a few of us are actually trying to do something about it. In September's lead article, CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, profiles some of the young hams he met at the Dayton and Dallas hamfests, along with some of the adult hams who are encouraging them.
Next, September means it's time for the CW results of last year's CQ World Wide DX Contest. We've also got the rules for this year's CQ World Wide ... the single sideband weekend is on October 30 and 31, and the CW weekend is on November 27 and 28. Plus, we've got a guide to contesting strategy for those of you who are no longer beginners but not yet "big guns," either.
As always, we've got lots of great stuff in our columns this month ... "Math's Notes" Editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, starts us off with an interesting look at logic circuits without ICs, followed by Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, and a look at the hams of MARS; and "Washington Readout" Editor Fred Maia, W5YI, explains the FCC's Universal Licensing System and all of the various abbreviations and acronyms that go with it.
Next, we've got four columns focused this month on newer hams. "How it Works" Editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, offers an introduction to FM, the mode on which most new hams start out. Then "Beginner's Corner" Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, goes "Beyond Channel Clicking" with a look at what else the VHF and UHF bands offer in addition to your local repeater. Next, Antennas Editor Kent Britain, WA5VJB, shows us how to build one of his "Cheap Yagis" for the 70-centimeter band, and K4TWJ returns in "World of Ideas" with an introduction to the joys of HF operating, available with an upgrade or a year-plus wait until the FCC decides what to do with the code requirement.
Moving on, we've got K9OCO's "Radio Classics" with a look back at Whippany Laboratories' "Li'l Lulu" receiver line and what's old is followed by "What's New," New Products Editor Karl Thurber, W8FX's, monthly scan of new items in the ham marketplace. Next, DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, previews upcoming DXpeditions; Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, asks whether contesting and ham radio are mutually exclusive (!? - Ya gotta read it ); and Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, reviews the steps for applying for CQ's USA-CA (US Counties) award.
Finally, "VHF-Plus" Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, review the spectacular sporadic-E openings of early July that opened up all sorts of DX opportunities on 6 meters, 2 meters and even 222 MHz! In addition, NW7US looks ahead to the fall DXing season on the HF bands.
Rules: 2004 CQ World Wide DX Contest
A key silenced
the world-class contesting QTH of Silent Key Bill Fisher, W4AN,
in Dahlonega, Georgia, just before it was scheduled to be dismantled.
Click here for K1AR's reflections.