November 2008
Articles from the
November 2008
issue
of CQ posted on our
website include:
The November issue of CQ features a look at the relationship between galactic cosmic rays and propagation on 160 meters, written by "top-band" experts Bob Brown, NM7M, and Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA. What exactly are galactic cosmic rays? Well, you'll have to read the article to find out! Next, Bob Locher, W9KNI, and Rick Tavan, NX6I, join forces to review the Elecraft K3 transceiver; Tom Perera, W1TP, reports on ham participation in World War II reenactments. (Note: We know that many of you love old WWII-vintage radios, and Tom had more photos than we had space, so we've posted additional photos here on the CQ website. Just click here to see them.)
Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, reviews the LDG AT-1000 Pro automatic antenna tuner, and Jim Cain, K1TN, reviews a new book about "being the DX" by Jim Smith, VK9NS, The Old Timer - 60 Years in the Hobby of Amateur Radio. Next, we've got the rules for the 2009 CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest. (Note: There are some significant changes to the rules this year, starting with a temporary date change. If you enjoy the 160 contest, be sure to read these new rules, which are also posted here.) If you're looking for a good-but-cheap microphone you can build yourself, check out "Talk is Cheap!" by Dick Genaille, W4UW. He'll show you how to make a mic out of an old telephone handset earpiece!
Among our columns this month, we start out with a guide to building simple linear power supplies in "Math's Notes," by Irwin Math, WA2NDM. Next, "Washington Readout" editor Fred Maia, W5YI, fills us in on the early days of two-way radio communications and how that history got us where we are today; Public Service Editor Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, covers the ham radio response to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav; and this month's "Weekender" by Phil Salas, AD5X, shows us how to measure the impedance and other values of various ferrite chokes.
Antennas Editor Kent Britain, WA5VJB, covers loop antennas for transmitting as well as receiving; "World of Ideas" editor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, continues his series on vintage homebrew rigs; and Mobiling Editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, takes us north to Alberta for a tour of VE6AB's very impressive mobile setup. K4TWJ returns with "How it Works," continuing his series on "The What and Why of Oscilloscopes," while New Products Editor Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, looks at some serious HF antennas, wall plates designed for passing through cables with connectors attached, some tools to make coax connector assembly easier, and an innovative type of solder.
Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, provides some updates on the USA-CA award and introduces a series of awards from the Polish national ham radio organization, PZK. DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, clears the air on rumors about a DXpedition to Glorioso and talks about the growing trend among DX stations not to transmit their callsigns for long periods; "VHF-Plus" editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, reports on the first-ever terrestrial contact on 2 meters between South Africa and Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, leading to renewed hope of finding the right path someday for transatlantic QSOs on 2 meters. Finally, Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, offers advice on multi-op contesting, and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, predicts fair conditions for the CW weekend of the CQ World Wide DX Contest (November 29-30) as well as improved conditions for the CQWW SSB weekend on October 25-26.
That's a brief look at what's coming up in the November issue of CQ magazine, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late October. For information on becoming a CQ subscriber, click the "Click Here to Subscribe" button at the top of this page.
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Connections
2009 CQ World Wide
160 Meter
DX Contest Rules
On The Cover
Dave Cisco, W4AXL, of Hoover,
Alabama