September 2008
Articles from the
September 2008
issue
of CQ posted on our
website include:
The September issue of CQ features the CW results of the 2007 CQ World Wide DX Contest, and once again, a record number of logs submitted, despite continuing to be at the bottom of the sunspot cycle. In addition, 33 new scoring records were set, many of them on the low bands (160 and 80 meters), which benefit from low sunspot numbers. Top of the top: High Power - 3V2A (YT1AD, op); Low Power - V26K (AA3B, op); QRP - 5V7D (K1XM, op); Assisted - ER0WW (UT5UDX, op); Multi-Single - C4N; Multi-Two - HC8N; Multi-Multi - 3X5A. Congratulations to all! We've also got the rules for the 2008 CQ WW DX Contest (available here on our website as well).
The September issue also features a CQ Review by Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, of the TW Antennas TW-2010 "Traveler," a portable HF antenna that covers 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters. We also profile 17-year-old Emily Stewart, KC0PTL, the 2008 Newsline Young Ham of the Year, along with a listing of this year's winners of 55 scholarships awarded by the Foundation for Amateur Radio.
Also featured in September is the conclusion of our annual "Hot Stuff at Hamvention®" survey of new gear introduced at Dayton. Once again this year, there was so much that we had to split the report across two issues. Part two covers antennas and accessories.
Among our columns this month, "Math's Notes" editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, asks, "Are You Really Operating on Frequency?"; Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, continues his coverage of ham radio's response to May's earthquake in China, as well as a different sort of ham radio public service -- helping identify the source of signals that were interfering with keyless entry systems on cars in a department store parking lot outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
"World of Ideas" editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, finishes his two-part look at "Giving HF a Go," a basic introduction to HF operating for hams who have recently upgraded or whose Technician licenses suddenly include some HF privileges. In this month's "Weekender," column editor Phil Salas, AD5X, shows us how to build 12-meter traps for a 12/17-meter dipole; "Washington Readout" editor Fred Maia, W5YI, hits the mailbag with answers to readers' questions; and Beginner's Editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, looks at on-air etiquette and the proper use of certain accessories, such as speaker-mics. September's "How it Works" column, by K4TWJ, introduces readers to "The What and Why of Oscilloscopes; Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, answers reader questions about CQ's USA-Counties Award and introduces a series of awards offered by the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC), Germany's equivalent of the ARRL in the United States; and New Products Editor Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, looks at new rig control software, ham radio gifts and a variety of other new items in the ham radio marketplace.
DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, covers the great openings in early summer on 6 meters -- the "Magic Band" was supporting transoceanic contacts even when the high HF bands were not. "VHF-Plus" editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, continues his series on the Earth's "magnetotail," with a look at the link between the moon and auroras here on Earth. Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, features a dialog with CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, on the question of slow-speed CW in contesting … trying to answer the basic question, "Is there room for it in Contesting?” Finally, Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, looks at speculation about the prolonged solar minimum and the benefits - especially during low sunspot periods - of NVIS, or Near Vertical Incident Skywave, antennas.
That's a look at the upcoming September 2008 issue of CQ magazine, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late August. For information on becoming a CQ subscriber, click the "Click Here to Subscribe" button at the top of this page.
Vanishing Act?
September 2008
Contest Calendar
On The Cover
Tommy Tow, WD4K, poses on his
tower beneath his many antennas at his station in Joelton, Tennessee, near
Nashville.