April 2008
Articles from the
April 2008
issue
of CQ posted on our
website include:
The April 2008 issue of CQ features the next installment in our ongoing series of CQ Interviews with highly-successful people who give ham radio significant credit for getting them where they are. This month, we talk with Dr. Eric Haseltine, AB3DI, who has managed to put his extensive talents to use in the aircraft industry (designing flight simulators for Hughes Aircraft), the entertainment industry (designing virtual reality games for theme parks at Disney) and in government (as Director of Research for the National Security Agency and Associate Director of National Intelligence for Science and Technology). In fact, Eric had so much interesting stuff to talk about and we had so much good stuff left "on the cutting room floor" when the article was finished that we put together a "web bonus" with additional material from his interview, posted only here on the CQ website, titled Digging Deeper with Dr. Eric Haseltine, AB3DI. You'll get a lot out of this web bonus by itself, but even more if you read the print article first.
Eric and others whom we've interviewed recently have emphasized the importance of ham radio and other hands-on hobbies as a way to get more young people interested in careers in science and technology. This month, we also hear from one of those young hams -- 14-year-old Brittany Decker, KB1OGL -- about how she discovered ham radio and the impact it's already having on her and her family. Her article is titled, "Saving the Hobby for KG7HF."
Also in this issue, CQ World Wide Foxhunting Weekend Moderator Joe Moell, K0OV, brings us the announcement of this year's hidden-transmitter hunting event, which coincides for the first time with the USA Amateur Radio Direction Finding National Championships, being held in Texas on May 8-10. Joe's article includes details on that event as well.
We've got two articles this month on hamfests and conventions, starting with a look by Henryk Kotowski, SM0JHF, at "The Importance of Attending Amateur Radio Rallies," as they're known in Europe, describing his visits to the International DX Convention in Visalia, California and the annual Scandinavian VHF/UHF/SHF meetings. Then, Michael Crestohl, W1RC, looks at hamfests from the organizers' side, describing how he and his group built up a new hamfest in New England in "Keeping the Regional Hamfest Alive." And, since it's April, it must be time to hear from the illustrious Professor Emil Heisseluft, whose topic this year is "A Cray-Based Internet Protocol HF CW DX Contest Simulator."
Among our April columns, "Math's Notes" editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, goes inside "The Cone of Silence;" Washington Editor Fred Maia, W5YI, looks at the 700 MHz "Spectrum Rush of 2008," and Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, describes the vital role played by ham radio operators in responding to the outbreak of early-February tornadoes in the southeast on "Super Tuesday."
"Magic in the Sky" editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, laments the "passing" of the FCC as a true regulatory and standard-setting body; "World of Ideas" editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, introduces us to the world of bicycle mobile operating; and Digital Editor Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, looks at the data side of D-Star and returns to the topic of (legal) encryption in the amateur service.
"Weekender" editor Phil Salas, AD5X, revisits a topic he last covered last July, in "More High-Voltage DC Power Supply Notes;" Beginner's Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, looks at "A Different Sort of Test Session," this type testing people's transceivers to make sure they're operating properly; K4TWJ returns with his "QRP" column to report that low-power hamming is "Still Hot and Rompin'!" and New Products Editor Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, looks at a new HF/6-meter transceiver from Yaesu, a couple of short HF antennas and something called the "DV Dongle." (You'll have to read it to find out what that is!)
VHF Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, examines the possibility of "Another Maunder Minimum?" - the period of very low solar activity back in the late 1600s and early 1700s - along with the possibility that if that happens, it could result in a period of global cooling rather than global warming. Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, answers questions about county-hunting and introduces a variety of exotic awards; DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, reports on the latest DXpeditions and offers QSLing advice from well-known DXpeditioner Roger Western, G3SXW; and Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, looks at "Contesting and Cheating." Finally, Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, continues his series on propagation basics with a discussion of Aurora.
That's a preview of the April issue of CQ, which should be in readers’ mailboxes and on newsstands by late March.
Trying New Things … and More
New
Things to Try
CQ Web Bonus:
Digging Deeper with
Dr. Eric Haseltine, AB3DI
On The Cover
Michael Bayern, W2CVZ, of
Houston, Texas, tracks a radio "fox" with the Pearland (TX) Amateur Radio
Club