CQ Amateur Radio - April 2016

116 Pages·2016·11.15 MB·English

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http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com
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APRIL 2016
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s APRIL
EDITORIAL STAFF
t BRANSON, MISSOURI — The 4 State QRP Group will hold the OxarkCon QRP Richard S. Moseson, W2VU, Editor
n ConferenceFriday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 at the Stone Castle Hotel and Conference Jason Feldman, KD2IWM, Associate Editor
Center. Contact: Tom Brown, WØMFQ, P.O. Box 627, St. Charles, MO 63302. Website: Susan Moseson, Editorial Consultant
<http://www.ozarkcon.com>.
e FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS — The Fort Smith Area Amateur Radio Clubwill hold the CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Hanging Judge Hamfestand 2016 ARRL Delta Division ConventionSaturday, April 2 at Kent Britain, WA5VJB, Antennas
Columbus Acres. Contact: Mike Cole, W5TMC, 124 Grant Street, Roland, OK 74954. Phone: Gerry L. Dexter,The Listening Post
m [phone]. Website: <http://www.hangingjudgehamfest.com>. VE exams. Joe Eisenberg, KØNEB, Kit-Building
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA — The Northern Florida Amateur Radio Societywill hold
Tony Emanuele, WA8RJF, VHF
the 14thJacksonville Radio Free FleaSaturday, April 2 at the Terry Parker Baptist Church
Parking Lot. Website: <http://nofars.net>. Tomas Hood, NW7US,Propagation
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — The Raleigh Amateur Radio Societywill hold the 44th Dennis Lazar, W4DNN, QRP
e
Annual RARSfestand 2016 ARRL North Carolina State ConventionSaturday, April 2 at Irwin Math, WA2NDM,Math’s Notes
the Jim Graham Building State Fairgrounds. Contact: Jeff Wittich, AC4ZO, [phone]. Ted Melinosky, K1BV,Awards
c Email: <[email protected]>. Website: <http://www.rars.org/rarsfest>. Talk-in 146.64. VE Joe Moell, KØOV,Homing In
exams and card checking. Ron Ochu, KOØZ,Learning Curve
WELLBORN, FLORIDA — The Suwannee Amateur Radio Clubwill hold its 4thAnnual Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, Mobile/Radio Magic
TailgateSaturday, April 2 at 1504 4thAvenue in Downtown Wellborn. Contact: SARC (386)
n Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, Digital
249-3260. Email: <[email protected]>. Website: <http://www.suwanneearc.org>. Talk-in
Rob de Santos, K8RKD,Communications Horizons
145.270 (PL 123). VE exams.
u CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA — Green Country Hamfest Inc. will hold the Green Country Cory GBSickles, WA3UVV,
Hamfestand 2016 ARRL Oklahoma State ConventionFriday, April 8 and Saturday, April Emergency Communications, Off the Air
9 at the Claremore Expo Center. Contact: John Harwell, KD5NAQ, [phone]. Email: Bob Schenck, N2OO, DX
o <[email protected]>. Website: <http://www.greencountryhamfest.org>. Talk-in David Siddall, K3ZJ, Contesting
147.09+ (PL 88.5). VE exams. Tom Smerk, AA6TS, International
COLUMBUS, INDIANA — The Columbus Amateur Radio Clubwill hold the 33rdAnnual Dan Srebnick, K2DLS,RFBits
n Columbus HamfestSaturday, April 9 at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds. Contact: Jason Togyer, KB3CNM,Spurious Signals
Matthew Bruner, KC9BWO, 325 Robbins Street, Hope, IN 47246. Phone: [phone].
Gordon West, WB6NOA, Short Circuits
Email: <[email protected]>. Website: <http://www.carcnet.net>. Talk-in 146.79- (PL 103.5). VE
n exams. Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, The Ham Notebook
CULPEPER, VIRGINIA — The Culpeper Amateur Radio Association will hold the AWARD MANAGEMENT
Culpeper Amateur Radio SwapfestSaturday, April 9 at the Culpeper Agricultural Enterprise.
a Contact: Bob Stohlman, K4RCG. Email: <[email protected]>. Website: John Bergman, KC5LK,WAZ Award
<http://w4cul.org>. Talk-in 147.120+ (PL 146.2). Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, WPX Award
CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO — The Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Clubwill hold its 62nd Keith Gilbertson, KØKG,CQ DX Award
Annual HamfestSaturday, April 9 at the Emidio and Sons Party Center. Contact: Ted Sarah, Ted Melinosky, K1BV, USA-CA Award
W8TTS, (234) 206-0270. Email: <[email protected]>. Website: <http://www.
cfarc.org>. CONTEST MANAGEMENT
HAMPTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE — The Port City Amateur Radio Clubwill hold the Andy Blank, N2NT, CQ 160 Meter Contest
Seacoast Amateur Radio Flea MarketSaturday, April 9 at the St. James Masonic Lodge. Steve Bolia, N8BJQ,CQ VHF Contest
Contact: Mark Pride, K1RX, [phone] or Dick Cooper, W1MSN, [phone]. Email: Ed Muns, WØYK, CQRTTY Contest
<[email protected]>. Website: <http://www.w1wqm.org>. VE exams. John Sweeney, K9EL, CQDX Marathon
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — The Mid-South Amateur Radio Associationwill hold the
Randy Thompson, K5ZD, CQ WW DX Contest
Memphis FreeFestSaturday, April 9 at the Bartlett Station Municipal Center. Contact: Tony
Terry Zivney, N4TZ, CQ WW WPX Contest
Brignole, WA4KHN, [phone]. Email: <[email protected]>. Website: <http://sites.
google.com/a/maraonline.org>. Talk-in 147.03+ (PL 107.2). VE exams. BUSINESS STAFF
MOBILE, ALABAMA — The Mobile Amateur Radio Clubwill hold the Mobile Hamfest
Richard A. Ross, K2MGA, Publisher
Saturday, April 9 at the Abba Shrine Center. Contact: L J. Early, W4LJE, [phone].
Charlie Payne, Advertising Director
Email: <[email protected]>. Website: <http://w4iax.net>. Talk-in 146.94 or 146.82.
VE exams. Emily Leary, Sales Coordinator
PHOENIX, ARIZONA — The Arizona Amateur Radio Cluband the Amateur Radio Doris Watts, Accounting Department
Council of Arizonawill hold the April Hamfestat DeVry Saturday, April 9 at DeVry University.
CIRCULATION STAFF
Contact: Gary Hamman [phone]. Email: <[email protected]>. Talk-in 147.060+. VE exams
and card checking. Cheryl DiLorenzo, Customer Service Manager
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — The Communications Academywill be held Saturday, April
PRODUCTION STAFF
9 and Sunday, April 10 at the South Seattle Community College-Jerry Brockey Center and
Olympic Hall. Website: <http://www.commacademy.org>. Elizabeth Ryan,Art Director
SELAH, WASHINGTON — The Yakima Amateur Radio Club will hold the Yakima Dorothy Kehrwieder, Production Director
HamfestSaturday, April 9 at the Selah Civic Center. Contact: Bob Dameron, KE7HLK, (509) Emily Leary,Production Manager
452-3877. Email: <[email protected]>. Website: <http://www.w7aq.com>. Talk-in 146.660 Hal Keith, Illustrator
(PL 123). VE exams. Larry Mulvehill, WB2ZPI,Staff Photographer
SPRING GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA — The York Hamfest Foundationwill hold the 2016
Rod Somera,Webmaster
York HamfestSaturday, April 9 at Elicker’s Grove Park. Email: <[email protected]>.
Website: <http://www.yorkhamfest.com>. Talk-in 147.330+ (PL 123) or 146.52. VE exams and
DXCC/WAS/VUC/WAC card checking. (cid:33)(cid:0)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:67)(cid:65)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:0)
TAMPA, FLORIDA — The Tampa Amateur Radio Clubwill hold TARCfest Hamfest CQ Communications, Inc.
XXXVISaturday, April 9 at their clubhouse, 7801 North 22ndStreet. Contact: Bill Bode, N4WEB.
17 West John Street
Email: <[email protected]>. Website: <http://hamclub.org>. VE exams.
CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA — The Chesapeake Amateur Radio Servicewill hold its Hicksville, NY 11801 USA.
SpringFest 2016Sunday, April 10 at the Moose Lodge #898. Contact: CARS, 120 Afton
CQ Amateur Radio (ISSN0007-893X) Volume 72, No. 4.
Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23505. Website: <http://w4car.org>. Talk-in 146.820 (PL 162.2) or
Published monthly by CQCommunications, Inc., 17 West John
444.000 VE exams. Street, Hicksville, NY 11801, Telephone [phone]. E-mail:
FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS — The Framingham Amateur Radio Association [email protected]. Fax [phone]. Web site:
will hold the Framingham FleaSunday, April 10 at Keefe Technical School. Contact: Eric www.cq-amateur-radio.com. Periodicals Postage Paid at
Taylor, KB1PJN, [phone] (before 10 p.m.). Email: <[email protected]>. Website: Hicksville, NY 11801 and at additional mailing offices.
<http://fara.org>. Talk-in 147.15. VE exams. Subscription prices (all in U.S. dollars): Domestic-one year
STERLING, VIRGINIA — The VHF Super Conferencewill be held Friday, April 15 through, $38.95, two years $70.95, three years $102.95; Canada/
Sunday, April 17 at the Holiday Inn Washington Dulles Intl. Airport. Website: <http://vhfsu- Mexico-one year $51.95, two years $96.95, three years
perconference.com>. $138.95: Foreign Air Post-one year $63.95, two years $120.95,
VISALIA, CALIFORNIA — The Southern California DX Cluband the Northern California three years $177.95. U.S. Government Agencies:Sub-
DX Clubwill hold the International DX ConventionFriday, April 15 through Sunday, April scriptions to CQare available to agencies of the United States
government including military services, only on a cash with
17 at the Visalia Convention Center. Contact: Cathy Gardenias, K6VC, or Doug Miller, K6JEY.
order basis. Requests for quotations, bids, contracts., etc. will
Email: <[email protected]>. Website: <http://www.dxconvention.org>. DXCC/WAZ/
be refused and will not be returned or processed. Entire con-
WAS/VUCC card checking. tents copyrighted 2016 by CQCommunications, Inc. CQdoes
BRAINERD, MINNESOTA — The Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Clubwill hold the not assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. Allow six
Brainerd Area HamfestSaturday, April 16 at the Brainerd National Guard Armory. Contact: weeks for change of address.
BAARC, 33247 East Shamineau Drive, Motley, MN 56466. Website: <http://www.brainerd-
ham.org>. Talk-in 147.225+. VE exams and card checking. Printed in the U.S.A.
DES MOINES, IOWA — The Des Moines Radio Amateur Associationwill hold the POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
CQ Amateur Radio, 17 W. John Street., Hicksville, NY 11801
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2 • CQ • April 2016 Visit Our Web Site
h
Amateur Radio Parity Act Moves Ahead Petitions Could Impact 80 Meters,
A bill in Congress that would hold private land use License Terms a
agreements regarding amateur radio antennas to the The FCC is reviewing initial public comments as well
same standards that already apply to municipalities, is as a pair of petitions that could shift the boundary m
now another step closer to a vote in the House of between the 80-meter CW/RTTY band and the 75-
Representatives. The House Energy and Commerce meter phone band, and do away with amateur radio
Committee’s subcommittee on communications and license renewals.
technology, which held hearings on H.R. 1301 in The 80-meter petition, submitted by the ARRL (RM- r
January, sent the bill to the full committee on February 11759), seeks to shrink the 75-meter phone band by a
11 with a favorable recommendation. The bill, also 50 kHz in order to provide more spectrum for RTTY
known as the Amateur Radio Parity Act, would require (radioteletype) and other data modes. According to the
d
that homeownwers’ associations and restrictive League, the FCC took away too much spectrum from
covenants (CC&Rs) “reasonably accommodate” ama- the RTTY/data portion of the band when it expanded
teur radio operation, the same rule that has applied to the 75-meter phone band by 150 kHz a decade ago. i
o
state and local governments since 1985. According to The ARRL seeks to move the bottom of the phone band
the (cid:33)(cid:50)(cid:50)(cid:44)(cid:0)(cid:44)(cid:69)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:82), the bill currently has over 100 co-spon- up to 3650 kHz and shift the segment for automatical-

sors and a companion bill in the U.S. Senate, S. 1685, ly controlled digital stations from its current 3585-3600
n
was approved last year by the Senate Committee on kHz to 3600-3615 kHz.
Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The license term petition (RM-11760), was submitted
e
In a related story, the Missouri state legislature is by Mark Krotz, N7MK, of Mesa, Arizona. It seeks to have
considering an identical measure to H.R.1301, which amateur licenses issued on a lifetime basis, rather than
would implement its requirements on a state level. needing to be renewed every 10 years. Krotz claims it w
The effort is being spearheaded by Larry Scantlan, would reduce the FCC’s workload and costs. The FCC
KEØKZ, who says the Missouri bill can serve as a has already granted lifetime credit for certain amateur
s
template for similar actions in other states. Several examination elements (but not for others).
states have already incorporated the “reasonable The Commission opened both petitions for 30-day
accommodation” rule into their laws as they apply to public comment periods in late February. Those com-
state, county, and local governments. ments will be used to help determine whether to issue
a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). There
China Continues Building Facilities
will be additional opportunities for comment when and
on Spratlys if an NPRM is issued.
There may or may not be any DXpeditions in the near
future from the Spratlys. But there is a chance that the Space Station “Ham TV” System Used
island chain in the South China Sea may become a for First Time
source of HF interference. The (cid:55)(cid:65)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:71)(cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:78) (cid:48)(cid:79)(cid:83)(cid:84) The digital amateur television (DATV) station
reports that China is building what may be a powerful aboard the International Space Station — dubbed
HF radar installation on one of the islands, possibly to “Ham TV” — was used for the first time in mid-
monitor ships and aircraft in the South China Sea and February during a scheduled contact with the Royal
the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s most impor- Masonic School in Rickmansworth, England. The
tant shipping lanes. Construction of this facility — what- downlink-only system allowed British astronaut Tim
ever it may be — is part of a major effort by China to Peake, KG5BVI, to transmit live video on 2.4 GHz
build up the islands and develop facilities there, which along with two-way audio on 2 meters during the
it claims are primarily for civilian purposes but the U.S. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
and others believe are mostly military. (ARISS) contact, according to the (cid:33)(cid:50)(cid:50)(cid:44)(cid:0)(cid:44)(cid:69)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:82). The
The Spratlys are claimed, in whole or in part, by six TV signal was received by a ham in Italy and relayed
different countries, and hams have mounted several to the school in England.
DXpeditions there in the past 50 years, despite con- Schools or other educational organizations wish-
siderable danger. In 1983, two German hams were ing to schedule future ARISS contacts have until
killed when the Vietnamese Navy attacked and sank April 15 to apply for slots in the first half of 2017.
their boat. Last year, evacuation of a sick ham on a According to the(cid:33)(cid:50)(cid:50)(cid:44)(cid:0)(cid:44)(cid:69)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:82), schools/groups with
DXpedition there was delayed several days after the best shot at being selected will be those that can
Chinese forces fired on a Philippine Navy plane sent attract large numbers of participants and integrate
to fly him out for medical care. the 10-minute voice contact into a well-developed
educational plan.
ARRL, Red Cross, Sign New Agreement
Popular Science Archive Online
The ARRL and the American Red Cross have signed
a new Memorandum of Understanding to govern their (cid:48)(cid:79)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:65)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:51)(cid:67)(cid:73)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:67)(cid:69)(cid:0)magazine has placed its entire
relationship over the next five years. It lays out the 140-year archive online with free access browsing,
framework for cooperation between the Red Cross and according to (cid:51)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:65)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:33)(cid:77)(cid:65)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:50)(cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:46)(cid:69)(cid:87)(cid:83). The
the ARRL’s Amateur Radio Emergency Service magazine worked with Google to make the entire
(ARES) on national, state, and local levels. A summary collection searchable. A search on “ham radio”
of the agreement in the (cid:33)(cid:50)(cid:50)(cid:44)(cid:0)(cid:44)(cid:69)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:0)says it also clar- returned 380 results (a search on “amateur radio”
ifies that ARES members working with the Red Cross returned 190, with considerable duplication).
but not registered as volunteers with the aid organi- The earliest is from 1916 and the most recent is
zation do not need to undergo the background checks from 2008.
required of Red Cross volunteers. (cid:8)(cid:35)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:85)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:80)(cid:65)(cid:71)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:22)(cid:17)(cid:9)
www.cq-amateur-radio.com April 2016 • CQ • 3
VOLUME 72 NUMBER 4
APRIL 2016
CONTENTS
FEATURES
10 T42US JOINT CUBAN/U.S. DXPEDITION: Operation
Centered on CQWWSSB DX Contest
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:50)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:0)(cid:51)(cid:87)(cid:69)(cid:73)(cid:71)(cid:65)(cid:82)(cid:84)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:43)(cid:35)(cid:20)(cid:34)(cid:33)(cid:34)
16 RESULTS OF THE 2016 CQWW DX SSB CONTEST: It’s this
kind of unexpected opening ... that makes the game of radiosport
so fascinating (cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:50)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:77)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:43)(cid:21)(cid:58)(cid:36)
26 A QRP “NEWBIE” TAKES ON THE CQWW SSB DX CONTEST
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:45)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:0)(cid:45)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:78)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:71)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:55)(cid:34)(cid:19)(cid:36)
28 (cid:35)(cid:49)(cid:0)(cid:37)(cid:56)(cid:35)(cid:44)(cid:53)(cid:51)(cid:41)(cid:54)(cid:37): IN HONOR OF HIS 40THANNIVERSARY
WITH (cid:35)(cid:49)(cid:0)MAGAZINE(cid:12)(cid:0)WE INTERVIEW PROFESSOR
EMIL HEISSELUFT
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:104)(cid:52)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:118)(cid:0)(cid:35)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:46)(cid:20)(cid:56)(cid:56)
(cid:163)(cid:228) 35 GET READY FOR HIDDEN TRANSMITTER FUN ON CQWW
FOXHUNTING WEEKEND: 2016 CQWW Foxhunting
Weekend – May 14-15 (cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:45)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:43)(cid:140)(cid:47)(cid:54)
93 COMPLETESCORES OF THE 2016 CQWW DX SSB
CONTEST (cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:50)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:77)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:43)(cid:21)(cid:58)(cid:36)
COLUMNS
38 MATH’SNOTES: Unusual Optical Communications
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:45)(cid:65)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:55)(cid:33)(cid:18)(cid:46)(cid:36)(cid:45)
40 THELISTENINGPOST: ISISoff the Air
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:39)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:36)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:0)
50 KIT-BUILDING: “Curiously Strong”
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:37)(cid:73)(cid:83)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:43)Ø(cid:46)(cid:37)(cid:34)
54 ANTENNAS: FLASH! EPADeclares the SWR an
Endangered Species!
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:43)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:84)(cid:0)(cid:34)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:84)(cid:65)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:55)(cid:33)(cid:21)(cid:54)(cid:42)(cid:34)
56 LEARNINGCURVE: Common Amateur Radio Antenna
Connectors (cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:50)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:47)(cid:67)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:43)(cid:47)Ø(cid:58)
60 MAGICINTHESKY: It’s Showtime
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:42)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:0)(cid:50)(cid:69)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:65)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:84)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:33)(cid:33)(cid:22)(cid:42)(cid:50)
(cid:206)(cid:120) (cid:120)(cid:228) 62 QRP: LOW-POWERCOMMUNICATIONS: Even QRP Fanatics
Sometime Cheat (cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:36)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:78)(cid:73)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:44)(cid:65)(cid:90)(cid:65)(cid:82)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:55)(cid:20)(cid:36)(cid:46)(cid:46)
67 CQWORLDWIDE: “Look! Up in the Sky!”
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:79)(cid:77)(cid:0)(cid:51)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:75)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:33)(cid:33)(cid:22)(cid:52)(cid:51)
DEPARTMENTS
44 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS: “Potpourri”
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:35)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:39)(cid:34)(cid:51)(cid:73)(cid:67)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:83)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:55)(cid:33)(cid:19)(cid:53)(cid:54)(cid:54)
70 VHF PLUS: What’s In Your Toolbox?
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:37)(cid:77)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:85)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:55)(cid:33)(cid:24)(cid:50)(cid:42)(cid:38)
72 AWARDS: Alaska’s Judicial Districts and Awards of the
CQCW.RU Club (cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:45)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:79)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:89)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:43)(cid:17)(cid:34)(cid:54)
76 DX: YF1AR/8 IOTATour (cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:34)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:0)(cid:51)(cid:67)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:67)(cid:75)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:46)(cid:18)(cid:47)(cid:47)
82 CONTESTING: Youth in Ham Radio, CQ WW Director Resigns,
(cid:199)(cid:200) Convention News, and WRTC2018 Happenings
(cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:36)(cid:65)(cid:86)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:51)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:65)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:43)(cid:19)(cid:58)(cid:42)
87 PROPAGATION: The Season of Lights
On the Cover:The joint U.S./Cuban T42US team operated the CQ World Wide (cid:34)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:79)(cid:77)(cid:65)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:40)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:46)(cid:55)(cid:23)(cid:53)(cid:51)
DX Contest SSB weekend from outside Havana. From left to right (see names
on page 15): CO2PTE, WBØTKL, WX3K, USA Team Leader WB2REM, 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS 49 READER SURVEY
CM2OY, WC3W, Federacion de Radioaficionados Cuba President CO2RP,
3 HAM RADIO NEWS 75 OURREADERSSAY
CL2TV, Cuban Team Leader CM2KL, K9DIG, CO2JD, KC4BAB, CO2AME,
CO2XK, KK4SHF, and CO2II. T42US story on page 10; CQWW SSB results 8 ZERO BIAS 110 HAMSHOP
on page 16. (Cover photo by Karile Michel Garcia-Pola Grandito) 43 SPURIOUSSIGNALS
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1705 MHz provides
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■ CSV memory data
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(50 channels X 40
banks)
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Communications Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] owners. Specifications subject to change without notice or
(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:118)(cid:156)(cid:74)(cid:62)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:213)(cid:195)(cid:62)(cid:176)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:202)(cid:85)(cid:202)(cid:220)(cid:220)(cid:220)(cid:176)(cid:62)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:213)(cid:195)(cid:62)(cid:176)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147) obligation. *Cellular frequencies blocked in US.

al U (cid:31)(cid:105)(cid:105)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:32)(cid:105)(cid:220)(cid:202)(cid:21)(cid:62)(cid:147)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:55)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:47)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:222)(cid:202)(cid:1)(cid:192)(cid:105)
V
2
i W
r
o N,* Exactly what is it that qualifies one as a “real” ham? ing my “radio time” over the past couple of months build-
t O I got a letter in response to my February editorial ing. I’ve still got a ways to go. It wouldn’t be completely
i S (“How Old Are You Now?”) which raised some very incorrect to describe me right now as a “maker” who is
d SE interesting points about how we view hams and ham radio, using ham radio projects in pursuit of a building hobby.
O
and how we perceive those members of our community My local astronomy club here in New Jersey — whose
e M
whose interests may not be in line with those of the advisor is a ham — is doing a program this month on EME
CH “traditional” ham. The letter read, in part: (Earth-Moon-Earth, or Moonbounce). Perhaps some
Q Y RI (cid:104)(cid:41)(cid:0)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:67)(cid:69)(cid:73)(cid:86)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:77)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:69)(cid:67)(cid:72)(cid:78)(cid:73)(cid:67)(cid:73)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:67)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:83)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:38)(cid:69)(cid:66)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:65)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:18)(cid:16)(cid:16)(cid:25)(cid:14)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:72)(cid:69) aam naetwe udri masetrnosnioonm teor sth weiilrl fainsdtr othnaotm amy ahtoebubry r.a Wdioit hc atanl ka dodf
C B (cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:77)(cid:0)(cid:87)(cid:65)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:70)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:87)(cid:73)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:0)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:87)(cid:65)(cid:73)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:71)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:65)(cid:75)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:65)(cid:77)(cid:14)(cid:0)(cid:41) sending a ham radio satellite to Mars, we’ll need astron-
(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:77)(cid:89)(cid:83)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:104)(cid:55)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:73)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:65)(cid:84)(cid:14)(cid:118)(cid:0)(cid:41)(cid:0)(cid:72)(cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:78)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:65)(cid:0)(cid:83)(cid:79) omy skills to track it and tune it in if the project succeeds.
(cid:77)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:87)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:65)(cid:77)(cid:65)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:82)(cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:14)(cid:0)(cid:48)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:79) Let’s not forget that it was an amateur astronomer and
a (cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:73)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:71)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:65)(cid:77)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:54)(cid:37)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:65)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:65)(cid:0)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:87) amateur radio operator, Grote Reber, who is considered
(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:0)(cid:72)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:71)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:39)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:65)(cid:76)(cid:0)(cid:136)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:87)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:72)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:83) the father of radio astronomy.
(cid:87)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:84)(cid:0)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:14)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:65)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:0)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:89)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:87)(cid:65)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:71)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:37)(cid:88)(cid:84)(cid:82)(cid:65) All this brings us back to the age-old question of what
– (cid:136)(cid:0)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:72)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:87)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:84)(cid:0)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:14)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:65)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:0)(cid:77)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:69) constitutes a “real ham.” Do you have to enjoy only tradi-
(cid:87)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:65)(cid:75)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:71)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:69)(cid:67)(cid:72)(cid:78)(cid:73)(cid:67)(cid:73)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:65)(cid:77)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:0)(cid:65)(cid:0)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:78)(cid:84) tional ham radio activities, such as DXing, contesting, or
s (cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:71)(cid:65)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:67)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:84)(cid:0)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:65)(cid:0)(cid:82)(cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:13)(cid:67)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:84)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:66)(cid:65)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:67)(cid:76)(cid:65)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:14) ragchewing? Do you have to operate HF? Do you need to
(cid:52)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:77)(cid:65)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:71)(cid:0)(cid:72)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:87)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:82)(cid:65)(cid:73)(cid:83)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:67)(cid:69)(cid:80)(cid:84)(cid:0)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:77)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:65)(cid:78)(cid:68) know and use Morse code? Or are you a “real ham” if you
a
(cid:84)(cid:87)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:7)(cid:83)(cid:14)(cid:0)(cid:33)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:65)(cid:77)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:41)(cid:0)(cid:72)(cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:79)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:73)(cid:13) hold an FCC amateur radio license and make use of the
(cid:84)(cid:89)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:65)(cid:76)(cid:75)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:83)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:65)(cid:76)(cid:0)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:0)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:86)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:65)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:65)(cid:75)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:71)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:65)(cid:77)(cid:0)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82) privileges that it confers, whether as ends unto themselves
i (cid:84)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:66)(cid:65)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:67)(cid:76)(cid:65)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:14)(cid:0)(cid:46)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:0)(cid:65)(cid:0)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:83)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:0)(cid:71)(cid:69)(cid:84)(cid:0)(cid:73)(cid:78)(cid:84)(cid:79) or as part of another activity, such as ballooning, building,
b (cid:65)(cid:77)(cid:65)(cid:84)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:0)(cid:82)(cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:14)(cid:118) hiking, biking, or being prepared for an uncertain future?
Our vote is for the latter.
Of course, they (cid:87)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:0)getting into amateur radio by virtue
Here’s a radical idea: Instead of lamenting new hams’
of taking their license exams. What the writer meant, I
o lack of interest in traditional ham radio activities, how
believe, was getting into ham radio as a hobby in and of
about if we “meet them where they are?” Let’s invite the
itself, rather than as part of a different hobby.
r But let’s take a quick look at what’s involved in a typical folks from the ballooning course to make a presentation
at a club meeting about how they make use of ham radio.
e balloon flight using amateur radio (there’s enough of this
Let’s invite local “makers” who are combining ham radio
activity in the hobby that it has an “official” acronym —
with other “making” activities to show them off at a club
z ARHAB, or amateur radio high altitude ballooning): The meeting. Who knows? You might just find yourself tag-
balloon’s payload will likely be transmitting telemetry on
ging along on the next balloon launch, joining the makers’
altitude, speed, temperature, and GPS location data; an
group or setting up a telescope alongside your antenna.
APRS signal for tracking; and possibly live video via ama-
And if these non-traditional hams are made to feel wel-
teur television or digital stills via one data mode or anoth-
come at your club meetings (and not pressured to con-
er. The members of the ground crew will need to be
form to someone else’s view of what constitutes “real”
equipped and trained to receive these transmissions and
ham radio), maybe they’ll discover additional aspects of
make use of the information. In addition, once the balloon
the hobby and broaden their interests as well. But even if
bursts and the payload parachutes back to earth, the chase
they don’t, so what? How we make use of our privileges
team will likely use ARDF (amateur radio direction finding)
on the airwaves is a personal choice, and there is no “right”
techniques to locate it, and if more than one vehicle is
or “wrong” way to “do” ham radio.
involved, will probably coordinate via 2-meter or 70-cen-
timeter FM. That’s pretty active hamming in my book, even
if it is all in connection with a different primary activity. Issue Notes
The writer goes on to say that when he went back to take A couple of quick notes relating to this month’s issue:
his General exam a month later, the VEs asked the candi- First of all, we have a different sort of Professor Heisseluft
dates the same questions, and that the answers were pret- feature for you this April. It has been 40 years since the
ty much the same, except that several members of this sage of Grossmaul-an Der Danau penned his first article
group identified themselves as “preppers,” who saw ham for (cid:35)(cid:49)(cid:12)and to commemorate that anniversary, we have
radio as “their lifeline to survival when and if the apocalypse persuaded him to sit down for an interview with Ted
came.” Well, here’s the deal on that: If you’re really going Cohen, N4XX. Longtime readers will recall that Ted con-
to be prepared, and ready to make use of your ham license ducted a great number of “(cid:35)(cid:49)(cid:0)Interviews…” with leading
in the aftermath of “the big one” (whichever “big one” that figures in amateur radio and the FCC back in the 1970s
may be), that won’t be the time to start setting up your sta- and ’80s, so he is certainly well-qualified to chat with the
tion, learning how to use the gear and learning the ins and good professor. You’ll find Ted’s interview beginning on
outs of effective ham radio communications. No, the time page 28.
to do all that is (cid:78)(cid:79)(cid:87), by getting on the air and learning about Much of this issue is dedicated to the results of the 2015
different operating modes, antennas, propagation, QRP, CQ World Wide DX Contest SSB weekend. We’ve brought
etc., and keeping your skills sharp with regular practice, so back complete score listings after exiling them to the
that you’re not starting from zero once you’ve wiped the Internet for a few years. We also have two contest-related
you-know-what off the fan that it’s hit. A serious prepper features, our cover story on the joint U.S./Cuban contest
won’t keep his or her ham gear locked up in a closet, but expedition from T42US and the story of how WB3D didn’t
will use it regularly. let low power and a stealth antenna keep him from having
I consider myself to be a fairly active ham, and I love a good time in the contest … and winning his category! But
ham radio as a hobby in and of itself. But if you look at my there’s plenty more as well, even if contesting isn’t your
HF logbook for the first two months of 2016, you would thing. Maybe ballooning? Enjoy the issue … and don’t let
find it to be empty. That’s right. Zero contacts. I got a bunch the SWRs bite! (p. 54)
of little radio kits at Christmastime and I’ve been spend- (cid:177)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:50)(cid:73)(cid:67)(cid:72)(cid:12)(cid:0)(cid:55)(cid:18)(cid:54)(cid:53)
8 • CQ • April 2016 Visit Our Web Site