 |
 |
|
| Click on the cover for larger view | Click on Table of Contents for a larger view | |
|
CQ October 2010 The October issue of CQ takes us on a voyage through time as well as space. We start out with a DXpedition to a "country" in the middle of New York City -- a visit to 4U1UN, the amateur station at United Nations Headquarters. Then we take you back to 1942, with plans for building a working model of a fictional radio, Captain Midnight's "Pocket Locator." Co-authors Leonard Zane and Tooru Kawabata bring this "top secret" transceiver to life as a 10-meter QRP rig! Moving to the present day, co-authors David Witkowski, W6DTW, and CQ Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, introduce us to JT-65 -- a mode best-known for moonbounce -- gaining popularity on the amateur HF bands. Next, we have our annual update of the CQ World Wide DX Contest All-Time Records, compiled by Fred Capossela, K6SSS; Gordon West, WB6NOA, gives us a mini-review of etched, lighted, callsign plaques made by KF4NBG; and Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, has a full review of the DX-2400L1 "Prometheus" amplifier from Dishtronix. Among our columns for this issue, "Math's Notes" editor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, finishes his primer on fiber-optics; "Washington Readout" editor Fred Maia, W5YI, looks at the court ruling that struck down the FCC's indecency policy and how that might affect ham radio enforcement; Public Service Editor Richard Fisher, KI6SN, looks at advancing digital technology in emergency communications, specifically "N-Beams," or Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System; and Digital Editor Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, reviews internet security and passwords, necessary knowledge as ham radio and the internet become ever-more intertwined. Kit-Building Editor Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, discusses parts placement when constructing a kit, and looks at the "Handi-Hunter" foxhunting receiver kit; QRP Editor Cam Hartford, N6GA, takes us hilltopping for Summits on the Air (SOTA) activity, then down to Arizona for the "Four Days in Rain" QRP gathering in Ft. Tuthill. "Magic in the Sky" columnist Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, offers up his take on "The Ten Best Ham Radio Moments," and New Products Editor John Wood, WV5J, looks at some goodies that will extend "your human capabilities." "VHF-Plus" editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, reports on "parking-lot moonbounce," as provided by EME "salesman" Paul Perryman, WA5WCP; "Learning Curve" editor Rich Arland, K7SZ, covers DXing basics; DX Editor Carl Smith, N4AA, previews DXpeditions to the new "entities" that will be created in October when the Netherlands Antilles become self-governing, and Awards Editor Ted Melinosky, K1BV, updates us on some new state-level counties awards. Finally, Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, wonders aloud whether the 48-hour contest has outlived its original intent, and Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US, predicts fair band conditions for the SSB weekend of the CQ World Wide DX Contest in late October. That's a brief look at what's coming up in the October issue of CQ magazine, which should be on newsstands and in subscribers' mailboxes by late September. For information on becoming a CQ subscriber, click here. Coming soon: 2011-2012 CQ Calendars! Click here to order your advance copy now! Articles from the October, 2010 issue of CQ posted on our website include: Zero Bias - A Quarter-Century of Honoring Young Hams All Time Records CQ WW October 2010 Announcements On the Cover: Island-hunter R. Bruce Stewart, N9GKE, of Lafayette, Indiana. Chasing islands is the ham radio passion of R. Bruce Stewart, N9GKE, of Lafayette, Indiana. He is very active in the IOTA (Islands On The Air) program as well as separate award programs for contacting islands in Scotland and the United States. A ham for more than 20 years and an island-chaser for most of that time, Bruce currently has 639 of them confirmed, noting that his biggest thrill to date was working BS7H, on Scarborough Reef. Bruce says working DXpeditions to very rare islands is particularly exciting for him. "The fact the operators are there for only a limited time, not like a country where there are plenty of operators" is what really gets his adrenaline flowing. "They're there for just four or five days and then they're gone." He notes that he has often stayed up until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning to work some rare island. "It's the thrill and excitement of the chase," he says, "and hoping your call will be heard." Locally, Bruce is also involved in emergency communications, and is ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Tippecanoe County, supervising an ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) group of some four dozen members. He says he is attracted to the challenge there as well, "going out into a remote area, without power and without antennas, and setting up and operating." Bruce's station consists of an ICOM 7700 (an upgrade to the IC-756 Pro seen in the photo), a Command Technologies Commander 2500 amplifier, and a TH-5 Yagi on a 50-foot tower. He also has a rotatable dipole for 12, 17, and 30 meters, although 20 is his favorite and most productive band for island-chasing. (Cover photo by Larry Mulvehill, WB2ZPI) |
||
 |