CQ Magazine Highlights

July 2010
The July issue of CQ starts out with an anniversary of note -- a personal visit between CQ contributor Ed Richmond, W4YO, and his friend, Klaus Schitthelm, DL7JK, on the 49th anniversary of their first on-air contact. Another regular CQ contributor, Robert Brown, NM7M, became a Silent Key as this issue went to press, so his article, "Over Coffee and Cognac," describing the early days of his career in physics, becomes a tribute as well as a short autobiography. Next, we have the results of the 2010 CQ WPX RTTY Contest, which featured yet another record number of entries and more than one million QSOs in the combined logs, a 27% increase over 2009. Top spots go to PJ4R (N4RR), P49X (W0YK), EE8E, Z37M, and HG1S. Congrats to all! We also have the rules for this fall's 2010 CQ WW RTTY DX Contest. Our July issue also features a CQ Review of the Yaesu VX-8R handheld, by New Products Editor John Wood, WV5J, and introduces this year's inductees into the CQ Amateur Radio, Contest and DX Halls of Fame. This year, we have 15 new members of the Amateur Radio Hall of Fame as well as two new members each in the DX Hall of Fame and the Contesting Hall of Fame. Congratulations to all! Among our columns this month, "Math's Notes" editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, helps you track down and resolve electromagnetic interference issues; "Washington Readout" editor Fred Maia, W5YI, looks at vanity calls and "…their mysterious 'regulatory fee';" and Public Service Editor Richard Fisher, KI6SN, shines his spotlight on the hams at WX4NHC, the amateur station at the National Hurricane Center, and their presentation at the 2010 National Hurricane Conference. "Magic in the Sky" editor Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, looks at the "treasure trove" of various radio collections and museums; Kit-Building Editor Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, offers tips on building techniques and takes a look at the MFJ "Cub" series of transceiver kits; "Learning Curve" editor Rich Arland, K7SZ, takes us inside a transmatch to see how it really works; "Ham Notebook" editor Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, looks at reverse-polarity protection for your DC-powered equipment, and New Products Editor John Wood, WV5J, examines a variety of solar-powered charging units. VHF Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, reports on the first-ever sub-orbital launch of two cubesats, both built by university students; DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, looks at the upcoming Microlite Penguins DXpedition to South Orkney; Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, describes some awards from Hungary and helps spread the word that sponsors are needed for county awards in 18 states that currently do not offer them; Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, discusses ways to improve your SSB contesting skills, and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, explains stunning satellite images of "rain" on the sun! That's a brief look at what's coming up in the July issue of CQ magazine, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late June. For information on becoming a CQ subscriber, click the "Click Here to Subscribe" button at the top of this page.