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announcements
EDITORIAL STAFF
DELTA, OHIO — The Fulton County Amateur Radio Club will hold the Fulton County Winterfest Saturday, Richard S. Moseson, W2VU, Editor
December 3 at the Delta American Legion Hall Post 373, 5939 State Route 109. Website: <www.k8bxq.org/
hamfest>. Talk-in 147.195+. VE exams. Jason Feldman, KD2IWM, Associate Editor
MESA, ARIZONA — The Superstition Amateur Radio Club will hold the Superstition SuperFest 2016 Susan Moseson, Editorial Consultant
Saturday, December 3 at Mesa Community College. Email: <info@superstitionsuperfest.org> or <chair-
man@superstitionsuperfest.org>. Website: <www.superstitionsuperfest.org>. Talk-in 147.120+ (PL 162.2) or
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
449.600- (PL 100). VE exams, card checking, special event station, K7A. Kent Britain, WA5VJB, Antennas
OCALA, FLORIDA — The Silver Springs Radio Club will hold its annual Hamfest Saturday, December 3 Gerry L. Dexter, The Listening Post
at the Florida National Guard Armory. Contact: Silver Spring Radio Club, P.O. Box 787, Silver Springs, FL 34489. Joe Eisenberg, KØNEB, Kit-Building
Phone (352) 233-8663. Website: <http://k4gso.us/hamfest>. Talk-in 146.610- (PL 123). VE exams, Tony Emanuele, WA8RJF, VHF
DXCC/VUCC/WAS card checking. Tomas Hood, NW7US, Propagation
MADISON HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN — The L’Anse Creuse Amateur Radio Club will hold its 44th Annual
Swap & Shop Sunday, December 4 at the United Food & Commercial Workers 876 Hall. Contact: Dale
Irwin Math, WA2NDM, Math’s Notes
McGorman, K8RO, 2855 Norton Lawn, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. Email: <k8ro@arrl.net>. Website: Ted Melinosky, K1BV, Awards
<www.n8lc.org>. Talk-in 147.08+ (PL 100). VE exams. Joe Moell, KØOV, Homing In
PLANT CITY, FLORIDA — The Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council will hold the 41st Annual Ron Ochu, KOØZ, Learning Curve
Tampa Bay Hamfest and 2016 ARRL West Central Florida Convention Friday, December 9 and Saturday, Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, Mobile/Radio Magic
December 10 at the Strawberry Festival Grounds Expo Building. Contact: FGCARC, P.O. Box 22042, Tampa,
Scott Rought, KA8SMA, QRP
FL 33622. Email: <president@fgcarc.org>. Website: <www.tampabayhamfest.org>. Talk-in 145.410- (PL 131.8).
VE Exams, WAS/DXCC/IARU/VUCC card checking. Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, Digital
MINDEN, LOUISIANA — The Minden Amateur Radio Association will hold the MARA Christmas Hamfest Rob de Santos, K8RKD, Communications Horizons
Saturday, December 17 at the Minden Civic Center. Website: <http://n5rd.org>. Talk-in 147.300. VE exams. Cory GB Sickles, WA3UVV,
Emergency Communications, Off the Air
JANUARY 2017 Bob Schenck, N2OO, DX
LOCUST FORK, ALABAMA — The Blount County Amateur Radio Club will hold FreezeFest 2017 David Siddall, K3ZJ, Contesting
Saturday, January 7 at Locust Fork High School, 155 School Road. Email: <info@w4blt.org>. Website: Tom Smerk, AA6TS, International
<http://freezefest.w4blt.org>. Talk-in 146.700- (PL 91.5). VE exams. Dan Srebnick, K2DLS, RF Bits
WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN — The West Allis Radio Amateur Club will hold the 45th Annual Midwinter Jason Togyer, KB3CNM, Spurious Signals
Swapfest Saturday, January 7 at the Waukesha County Expo Arena, 1000 Northview Road. Contact: Steve,
NO9B, (262) 993-9470. Website: <www.warac.org>. VE exams.
Gordon West, WB6NOA, Short Circuits
WHITE PINE, TENNESSEE — The Lakeway Amateur Radio Club will hold the LARC 25th Annual Hamfest Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, The Ham Notebook
Saturday, January 7 at its clubhouse. Email: <gapritikin4128@aol.com>. Website: <www.morristown AWARD MANAGEMENT
hamfest.com>.
BETHPAGE, NEW YORK — New York Area Amateur Radio Clubs will hold Ham Radio University 2017 John Bergman, KC5LK, WAZ Award
and the 2017 ARRL New York City/Long Island Section Convention Sunday, January 8 at Briarcliff College, Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, WPX Award
1055 Stewart Avenue. Website: <www.hamradiouniversity.org>. Talk-in 146.850 (PL 136.5). VE exams, spe- Keith Gilbertson, KØKG, CQ DX Award
cial event station, W2HRU. Ted Melinosky, K1BV, USA-CA Award
GREENWOOD, SOUTH CAROLINA — The Greenwood Amateur Radio Society will hold the Greenwood
Hamfest Saturday, January 14 at the James Medford Family Event Center-Piedmont Technical College, 620 CONTEST MANAGEMENT
North Emerald Road. Contact: GARS, P.O. Box 2404, Greenwood, SC 29646. Email: <ai4wn@arrl.net> or Andy Blank, N2NT, CQ 160 Meter Contest
<wj4x@arrl.net>. Website: <www.w4gwd.org>. Talk-in 147.165+ (PL 107.2) or 443.900+ (PL 107.2). VE exams. Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, CQ VHF Contest
LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA — The Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society will hold TechFest Saturday, Ed Muns, WØYK, CQ RTTY Contest
January 14 at the Gwinnett Medical Resource Center, 665 Duluth Highway. Email: <techfest@gars.org>.
Website: <www.techfest.info>. VE exams.
John Sweeney, K9EL, CQ DX Marathon
PHOENIX, ARIZONA — The Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club will hold the Thunderbird Hamfest 2017 Terry Zivney, N4TZ, CQWW WPX Contest
Saturday, January 14 at the Northwest Community Church, 16615 N. 43rd Avenue. Email: <hamfest@ Douglas Zwiebel, KR2Q, CQWW DX Contest
w7tbc.org>. Website: <www.w7tbc.org>. Talk-in 146.700- (PL 162.2) or 446.150- (PL 100). VE exams, DXCC
card checking. BUSINESS STAFF
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — The San Antonio Radio Club will hold its Radio Fiesta 2017 Saturday, January Richard A. Ross, K2MGA, Publisher
14 at the Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway. Contact: Harold, AE5AS, (210) 497-2532. Email: Jon Kummer, WA2OJK, Advertising Director
<ae5as@arrl.net>. Website: <www.w5sc.org>. Talk-in 146.940- (PL 179.9). VE exams, card checking. Emily Leary, Sales Coordinator
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA — The Forsyth Amateur Radio Club will hold the Winston-Salem Doris Watts, Accounting Department
FirstFest Saturday, January 14 at Summit School, 2100 Reynolda Road. Email: <hamfest@w4nc.com>.
Website: <www.w4nc.com>. Talk-in 146.64 (PL 100) or 145.47 (PL 100). VE exams. CIRCULATION STAFF
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA — The Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club will hold the Southwest Florida Hamfest Cheryl DiLorenzo, Customer Service Manager
Friday, January 20 and Saturday, January 21 at the Gulf Coast Church of Christ, 9550 Six Mile Cypress Parkway.
Email: <wo4k@arrl.net>. Website: <http://fmarc.net/hamfest>. Talk-in 147.345 (PL 136.5). VE exams, ARRL PRODUCTION STAFF
card checking. Elizabeth Ryan, Art Director
QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA — Quartzfest will be held from Sunday, January 22 through Saturday, January Dorothy Kehrwieder, Production Director
28 on Bureau of Land Management property outside of Quartzsite. Website: <http://www.quartzfest.org>.
ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS — The Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs will hold the WCRA 50th Annual Emily Leary, Production Manager
Mid-Winter Hamfest Sunday, January 22 at the Kane County Fairgrounds Expo Center, 525 S. Randall Road. Hal Keith, Illustrator
Contact: WCRA, P.O. Box QSL, Wheaton, IL 60187-1055. Phone: (630) 604-0157. Email: <info@w9ccu.org>. Larry Mulvehill, WB2ZPI, Staff Photographer
Website: <www.w9ccu.org>. Talk-in 145.31- (PL 107.2). VE exams. Rod Somera, Webmaster
COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS — The St. Louis & Suburban Radio Club will hold its Winterfest 2017 Saturday,
January 28 at the Gateway Center, One Gateway Drive. Contact: Rebecca, <winterfest@slsrc.org>. Website: A publication of
<http://winterfest.slsrc.org>. CQ Communications, Inc.
MADISON HEIGHTS, WISCONSIN — The Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club will hold its 51st Annual Swap
& Shop Sunday, January 29 at the UFCW Local 876. Contact: Hugh Boyle (248) 755-6094. Email: <hazel- 17 West John Street
parkswap@gmail.com>. Website: <www.hparc.org>. Talk-in 146.640 (PL 100). Hicksville, NY 11801 USA.
ODENTON, MARYLAND — The Maryland Mobileers Amateur Radio Club will hold the MMARC Hamfest
Sunday, January 29 at the Odenton Fire Hall, Route 175. Email: <n3seo@aol.com>. Website: <https:// (ISSN 0007-893X) Volume 72, No. 1. Published monthly by CQ
sites.google.com/marylandmobileers>. Talk-in 146.805- (PL 107.2). VE exams. Communications, Inc., 17 W. John Street, Hicksville, NY 11801,
STRASBURG, OHIO — The Tusco Amateur Radio Club will hold its 27th Annual Hamfest Sunday, January Telephone 516-681-2922. Periodical postage paid at Hicksville,
29 at 965 North Wooster Avenue. Contact: Janice Green, KB8YDK, 32210 Norris Road, Tippecanoe, OH 44699. NY 11801 and additional offices. Statement of Ownership,
Phone (740) 922-4454. Email: <k8wfn@tusco.net>. Website: <www.tuscoarc.org>. Talk-in 146.730-. Management and Circulation, October 27, 2016. 17 W. John
Street, Hicksville, NY 11801. Publication #0007-893X. Issued
FEBRUARY 2017 monthly, subscription price $38.95 per year (12 issues).
Publisher: Richard A. Ross; Editor: Richard S. Moseson: owned
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA — The Dade Radio Club of Miami will hold the 2017 Tropical Hamboree by CQ Communications, Inc. Stockholders: Richard A. Ross.
Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4 at the War Memorial Auditorium, 800 NE 8th Street. Phone: (305) Circulation (Average of Preceding 12 Months): Net Press Run
590-8523. Email: <tropicalhamboree@gmail.com>. Website: <http://hamboree.org>. Talk-in 147.000 (PL 94.8). 20,221, Mail Subscriptions 18,002 Sales Through Dealers and
VE exams. News Agents 9,002, Other Classes Mailed 382, Total Paid
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA — The Desert Radio Amateur Transmitting Society will hold the 2017 18,384 Free Distribution 252, Total Distribution 18,636, Copies
Palm Springs Hamfest Saturday, February 4 at the Palm Springs Air Museum, 745 North Gene Autry Trail. Not Distributed 1,585, Total 20,221. Paid Electronic Copies
Website: <http://palmspringshamfest.com>. VE exams. 9,002, Total Paid Print Copies + Paid Electronic Copies 27,386,
ORLANDO, FLORIDA — The Orlando Amateur Radio Club will hold Orlando Hamcation 2017 Friday, Total Print Distribution + Paid Electronic Copies 27,638.
February 10 through Sunday, February 12 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park, 4603 West Colonial Circulation (single issue nearest filing date): 21,078, Mail
Drive. Contact: 2017 Orlando Hamcation, P.O. Box 574962, Orlando, FL 32857. Phone: (407) 841-0874 or (800) Subscriptions 17,805, Sales Through Dealers and News
214-7541. Email: <info@hamcation.com>. Website: <www.hamcation.com>. Talk-in 146.760- or 147.015-. VE Agents 9,112 Other Classes Mailed 388, Total Paid 18,193,
exams, special event station, W1AW/4. Free Distribution 249, Total Distribution 18,442, Copies Not
YUMA, ARIZONA — The Yuma Amateur Radio Hamfest Organization will hold the Yuma Hamfest and Distributed 2,636, Total 21,078.Paid Electronic Copies 9,112,
2017 ARRL Arizona Section Convention Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18 at the Yuma County Total Paid Print Copies + Paid Electronic Copies 27,305, Total
Fairgrounds, 2520 East 32nd Street. Email: <info@yumahamfest.org>. Website: <www.yumahamfest.org>. Talk- Print Distribution + Paid Electronic Copies 27,554. s/Dorothy
in 146.840- (PL 88.5). VE exams, DXCC card checking. Kehrwieder, Business Manager. Entire contents copyrighted
BRIGHTON, COLORADO — The Aurora Repeater Association, Rocky Mountain Ham Radio, and Cherry 2016 by CQ Communications, Inc.
Creek Young Amateur Radio Club will hold the ARA Swapfest Sunday, February 19 at the Adams County Printed in the U.S.A.
Fairgrounds, 9755 Henderson Road. Contact: Wayne Heinen, NØPOH, (303) 699-6335. Email: <info@ POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
n0ara.org>. Website: <http://n0ara.org>. Talk-in 147.15+ (PL 100). VE exams. CQ Amateur Radio, 17 W. John Street., Hicksville, NY 11801

2 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

HS1A, King of Thailand, SK
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who held the
amateur callsign HS1A, became a Silent Key in October
at age 88 after a period of failing health. On the throne
since 1946, he was the world’s longest-reigning monarch
and was the patron of the Radio Amateur Society of
Thailand (RAST). According to the RAST website, “His
Majesty the King had been presented the callsign HS1A
by the Ministry of Communications at Chitrlada Palace
on August 18, 1989 in a ceremony witnessed by RAST
officers. Five years later, in November 1994, His Majesty
placed RAST under his royal patronage.” The website
<http://www.qsl.net/rast/> also shows photos of the king
using a handheld and the 1989 ceremony at which his
callsign was presented.
Hurricane Watch Net Sets Record With
Matthew
The Hurricane Watch Net <www.hwn.org> was active
for nearly a full week as Hurricane Matthew meandered
its way up the east coast of the United States in early
October. According to HWN Manager Bobby Graves,
KB5HAV, the 6-day, 7-hour activation was the longest
period of continuous operation in the net’s 51-year histo-
ry. The net activates whenever a hurricane is affecting
land in the Caribbean or along the U.S. East Coast, to
relay reports of conditions and requests for information or
assistance. Hurricane Matthew devastated Haiti and its
rains caused major flooding and damage in the Carolinas.
ARRL Members in SE Division
Disenfranchised
The ARRL Board of Directors cancelled an election for
Director in the Southeastern Division as ballots were
about to be mailed, disqualifying the incumbent from
seeking re-election and declaring his challenger elect-
ed. Incumbent Doug Rehman, K4AC, was seeking a sec-
ond term and was being challenged by predecessor
Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, whom Rehman had defeated pre-
viously. The ARRL’s October 6 announcement offered
no explanation, simply stating that Sarratt had been
declared elected.
CQ learned that the League’s Elections and Ethics
Committee disqualified Rehman and that the full board
endorsed that action. (For more details and commen-
tary on this story, see this month’s “Zero Bias” editorial
on page 8.)
Raising the Rates for ARRL Outgoing
QSL Bureau
The cost of sending traditional QSL cards to DX sta-
tions via the ARRL’s Outgoing QSL Bureau increased
significantly on November 1, with rates increasing from
the current 80 cents per ounce (roughly 10 cards) to
$1.15, plus a new $7 per transaction service fee.
According to the League, the increase is necessary to
cover “increased administration costs.” (For more
details and commentary on this story, see this month’s
DX column on page 91.)
Fighting ISIS on the Airwaves
As U.S.-backed forces began an offensive in late
October to retake Iraq’s second-largest city from ISIS,
the air war included not only bombs but words and music.
CNN and other news outlets reported on a clandestine
radio station, Alghad FM (Alghad means tomorrow in
Arabic), broadcasting into Mosul. Run by 28-year-old
Mohamad Al Mawsily (a pseudonym meaning “from
Mosul”) and two partners, the station not only broadcasts
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
music and information into Mosul, but airs phone calls
ham radio news
from listeners who describe minute-by-minute condi-
tions in the city. This, despite a recent ban on cellphones
by ISIS, making such calls very dangerous for all
involved. However, as the CNN story reported, “(h)ere,
there are only two things that ISIS hates: music and
truth.” Alghad FM is providing both.
Milestones: NC1L, Other Prominent Hams
Become SKs
Former ARRL DXCC and Awards Manager Bill Moore,
NC1L, became a Silent Key in early October. According
to the ARRL Letter, Moore was seriously injured in a traf-
fic accident in 2014, which resulted in his being para-
lyzed from the chest down. He was 64.
Owen Wormser, K3CB (ex-K6LEW), became a Silent
Key on October 16 at age 78. A well-known VHFer and
former owner of C3i Antennas, Wormser had also served
previously as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Air Force
and, back in ham radio, as president of the National
Frequency Coordinators’ Council. According to the ARRL,
he had been diagnosed with brain cancer earlier this year.
Also passing away in October were prominent con-
tester Paul Obert, K8PO, of Union, Maine; repeater link-
ing pioneer John Crockett, W3KH; and, while not an
amateur, Navajo Code Talker Dan Akee, Sr. (Read more
about these often-unsung heroes of World War II and a
ham radio connection in “N7C: Celebrating the Navajo
Code Talkers,” on page 50 of this issue.)
IARU to Seek Worldwide 6-Meter Allocation at
WRC-19
The Administrative Council of the International Amateur
Radio Union met in Chile in October, firming up its strate-
gies and priorities for the next World Radiocommunication
Conference (WRC), scheduled for 2019. High on the pri-
ority list, according to the ARRL Letter, is trying to get an
amateur allocation in Region 1 (Europe and Africa) from
50-54 MHz, “to harmonize with the allocations in the other
two regions.” What we know as the 6-meter band had
been used for TV broadcasting in Europe prior to the
worldwide adoption of digital TV and migration to new fre-
quencies. Many European countries provided hams with
a low-VHF allocation at 4 meters (70 MHz).
Jamming War in Africa Affects 40 Meters
As a combination of seasonal changes and a declin-
ing sunspot cycle make 40 meters more attractive for
worldwide DXing, battling broadcasters in Africa and the
Middle East are causing interference on the band. The
ARRL reports that Radio Eritrea is operating on 7.145
and 7.175 MHz, while Radio Ethiopia is said to be try-
ing to jam the opposition broadcaster with a signal that
is 20-kHz wide on each channel. In addition, Radio
Hargeisa in Somaliland is reportedly transmitting on
7.120, while both Radio France International and the
Voice of Iran are transmitting on 7.205 and reportedly
splattering as far down as 7.185. Other non-broadcast
intruders are reported on the band as well.
Meanwhile, in India, hams have been asked by author-
ities to help keep track of “highly suspicious” VHF radio
transmissions along the border of Bangladesh. The
ARRL Letter reports that an article in the Hindustan
Times says hams first picked up unusual transmissions
“in the dead of night, with participants said to be in motion
and speaking in some sort of code.” The newspaper says
the amateurs reported the incidents to the Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology, then met
with officials of the international monitoring station in
Kolkata. They were asked to continue monitoring.
(Continued on page 76)
December 2016 • CQ • 3
 VOLUME 72 NUMBER 12

DECEMBER 2016
CONTENTS
TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL:

FEATURES
18 TUNING UP FOR 630-METER RECEPTION USING
AIRCRAFT BEACONS By Nicholas M.Elias II, N3AIU
24 A SINGLE-CHIP REPEATER CONTROLLER USING
AN FPGA By Martin Alcock, VE6VH
34 SHERLOCK INVESTIGATES: THE FAILED STATE OF
ELECTRONICS By Paul Signorelli, WØRW
38 BUILDING A CLASSIC NOVICE STATION OF 1956
By Eric W. Polk, W4SAY
44 HAVE BIG-TIME MAKER FAIRES LOST THEIR WAY?
By Rich Moseson, W2VU

COLUMNS
£ä 49 MATH’S NOTES: Nostalgia By Irwin Math, WA2NDM
62 KIT-BUILDING: It’s Crystal Clear
By Joe Eisenberg, KØNEB
67 LEARNING CURVE: SDR: Join In the Fun!
By Ron Ochu, KOØZ
73 QRP: LOW-POWER COMMUNICATIONS: Improving QRP
Station Effeciency By R. Scott Rought, KA8SMA
77 OFF THE AIR: Novice Rig Roundup
By Cory GB Sickles, WA3UVV
80 COMMUNICATIONS HORIZONS: Where Have All the Radios
Gone? By Rob de Santos, K8RKD
82 ANTENNAS: SDRs and Antenna Filters
By Kent Britain, WA5VJB
107 PROPAGATION: Cycle 24 is Dying!
By Tomas Hood, NW7US

FEATURES
10 A5A: 2016 MICRO DXPEDITION TO BHUTAN
By Champ Muangamphun, E21EIC

{{ ÈÓ 23 ANNOUNCING: 2017 NOMINATIONS FOR CQ AMATEUR

RADIO DX, AND CONTESTING HALLS OF FAME
33 ANNOUNCING: 2017 CQ WORLD WIDE WPX RTTY
CONTEST By Ed Muns, WØYK
50 N7C: CELEBRATING THE NAVAJO CODE TALKERS
By Bob Davies, K7BHM

COLUMNS/DEPARTMENTS
52 THE LISTENING POST: Australia’s Northern Territory
Shortwave Service’s Death Greatly Exaggerated
By Gerry Dexter
58 CQ WORLD WIDE: Hamfests and Hurricanes ...
By Tom Smerk, AA6TS
64 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS: Working Within Your
Limitations By Cory GB Sickles, WA3UVV
86 VHF PLUS: The Non-ARRL UHF Contest

ÇÎ 88
By Tony Emanuele, WA8RJF
AWARDS: Useful Spotting Networks for the Awards Hunter
By Ted Melinosky, K1BV
2 ANNOUNCEMENTS 104 OUR READERS SAY 95 DX: ARRL Sharply Increases Outgoing QSL Bureau Rates
3 HAM RADIO NEWS 105 CQ ANNUAL INDEX By Bob Schenck, N2OO
8 ZERO BIAS 110 HAM SHOP 97 CONTESTING: HF “Bookend Bands” Keet the Competitive
12 SPURIOUS SIGNALS Fires Burning By David Siddall, K3ZJ
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zero bias – a CQ editorial
BY RICH MOSESON,* W2VU
s we were wrapping up this issue in late
A October, a coordinated cyber-attack effec-
tively shut down several major websites, such
as PayPal and Twitter, in the population centers on
the U.S. east and west coasts. At this writing, it was
not yet clear who was behind the attack or what their
motives were. But three things became very clear
very quickly:
• The attack did not focus on specific websites but
rather on the infrastructure of the internet itself, tar-
geting routing centers (one in particular) with what’s
called a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack,
in which huge numbers of computers make website
requests at the same time, slowing throughput on the
‘net to a crawl or a full stop;
• The main culprits in this attack were not traditional
computers, but rather other devices that are accessed
and controlled via the internet. These so-called
“Internet of Things,” or IoT, devices include “nanny
cams,” remotely-operated thermostats, garage door
openers and yes, remotely controllable ham rigs.
Millions of these devices had been hacked without their
owners’ knowledge and infected with malware that was
signaled to activate at a specific time to request access
to certain websites. A torrent of simultaneous requests
caused the routing centers to crash.
• We can help with critical infrastructure backups in
similar attacks in the future (and there will be similar
attacks in the future), but we must begin to prepare
now. Ham radio emergency communications groups
need to begin looking beyond FM voice to quickly-
deployable ad-hoc “MESH” data networks that can
provide backup digital connectivity between critical
sites in the event that standard internet pathways are
clogged or down. More and more public safety agen-
cies are becoming (overly) reliant on internet links to
route 911 calls, connect dispatch centers with remote
radio transmit/receive sites, and provide data links
between agencies. If we can offer flexible and quick-
ly-deployable backup pathways between these loca-
tions, we can tremendously increase our value to
these served agencies. We can enhance it even more
through regional or statewide coordination that will
allow us to provide data as well as voice links between
neighboring agencies, or between local/county
and/or county/state emergency management cen-
ters. See this past October’s Emergency Commu-
nications Special for examples of how some amateur
radio EmComm groups are already adding broad-
band connectivity to their toolkits.
Technology Special
Of course, there’s much more to ham radio technol-
ogy than what we can offer in terms of emergency
communications, and the variety of ways in which we
interact with technology is the focus of this month’s
Technology Special. In this month’s article lineup,
we’ve got old and new, basic and advanced, hard-
ware and software, building and operating, theory and
practice. We look at antennas and receiving tech-
niques for our soon-to-come 630-meter band, using a
*e-mail: <w2vu@cq-amateur-radio.com>
8 • CQ • December 2016
single-chip FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array)
as a repeater controller, and have two articles on soft-
ware-defined radio. We also go back in time to Novice
rigs from 50-60 years ago (including building one
today from plans of yesteryear), offer troubleshooting
tips from Sherlock Holmes himself and much more.
Plus, if you’re not feeling too “techy” right now, we
start the issue with a report on a mini-DXpedition to
Bhutan and look in on a special event station cele-
brating the Navajo code talkers of World War II. As
usual, we try to have something for everyone in every
issue of CQ.
Election Drama Down South
This has nothing to do with the general election, which
was still two weeks away when this was written and
will (hopefully) be decided by the time you read this.
No, this is about the election for director in the ARRL’s
Southeastern Division, or rather, the non-election. In
a very unusual move, the ARRL’s Elections and Ethics
Committee disqualified an incumbent director from
seeking re-election, and what made it even more
unusual was that the decision was made well after the
committee granted routine approval for his candidacy
and announced the election. What was not unusual
was the way in which the process played out, in secret,
with very little information provided to the members.
Back on August 25, the ARRL announced upcom-
ing elections for director in the Southeastern and
Rocky Mountain Divisions. In the southeast, the
announcement said, “former Director Greg Sarratt,
W4OZK, will attempt to regain that position from sit-
ting Director Doug Rehman, K4AC … Ballots and can-
didates’ statements will go out to members eligible to
vote … no later than October 1, 2016, with a return
deadline for completed ballots of November 18.”
Then, on October 6, five days after the voting peri-
od began, the League issued the following very brief
announcement: “Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, has been
declared elected as Director of the ARRL South-
eastern Division, to take office at noon Eastern Time
on January 1, 2017.”
Huh? What happened to the election? As usual in
ARRL politics, there was a lot more than meets the
eye going on here. Based on what we can determine
— and there are conflicting accounts, of course —
the board’s Elections and Ethics committee voted to
disqualify Rehman on the basis of actions he took
following the announcement of the election, a deci-
sion that was subsequently ratified by a majority of
the full board of directors. The specifics appear to be
subject to interpretation, so we won’t get into them
here, but actually, the specifics are irrelevant in this
case. What is significant is the procedure.
The cornerstone of Doug Rehman’s initial cam-
paign and of his time on the League board has been
to push for greater openness and transparency in the
ARRL’s decision-making process, something we
have been promoting for years (decades?). He even
proposed making the board meetings available to
members via live streaming over the internet.
(Continued on page 48)
Visit Our Web Site
Photo A. “There is nowhere in Bhutan where you can take a photograph that is not beautiful,” says author E21EIC.
His photos suggest that he is right. (All photos courtesy of the author)

Bhutan is one of the most remote and most beautiful places on our
planet. E21EIC had an opportunity this fall to visit and operate from
“The Land of the Thunder Dragon,” and he shares his experience
with us in this photo essay.

$$0LFUR';SHGLWLRQ
WR%KXWDQ
BY CHAMP MUANGAMPHUN,* E21EIC
Translated by Tony Waltham, HSØZDX

he Kingdom of Bhutan, known locally as Druk Tsenden The A5A Micro DXpedition resulted from a planned visit

T or the “Land of the Thunder Dragon,” is a small land-

locked country in the Himalayan mountains between
India and China in South Asia (Photo A), with an area of
38,394 square kilometers (14,824 square miles). Bhutan’s
capital is Thimphu, which is located 65 kilometers (40 miles)
from the international airport in Paro, the only airport in the
country.
* e-mail: <e21eic@gmail.com>
to Bhutan by a delegation from the Japanese SEISA Group
and the Foundation for Global Children (FGC), led by
founder and CEO Zorro Miyazawa, JH1AJT. The main pur-
pose of the trip was to promote the Bhutan-Japan Sports
Collaboration project between the SEISA Group and the
Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC) by which SEISA will sup-
port athletes from Bhutan to join the Olympic and
Paralympic competitions when Japan hosts the summer
games in 2020. The participants had to sign a memoran-
dum of understanding (MoU) with several sports associa-

10 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

Photo B. At the airport … author Champ Muangamphun, E21EIC; Franz Langner,
DJ9ZB; and Zorro Miyazawa, JH1AJT, along with some of their luggage. It was
a mix of radio gear and literature about a charitable foundation headed by JH1AJT.
A program of that foundation was the primary purpose of the trip.

Photo C. Loading up the car at the airport in Paro, Bhutan. Luckily, our intrepid
DXpeditioners had help from officials of the Royal Thimphu College, where they
stayed and operated during their 10-day visit.

tions such as those responsible for
archery, shooting, and judo.
The ham radio team consisted of
Zorro; Franz Langner, DJ9ZB; and me,
Champ Muangamphun, E21EIC. We
met in Bangkok, Thailand, on the
evening of September 7, 2016, the eve
of our departure for Bhutan.
Early on the morning of September
8, we went to the check-in counter of
Bhutan Airlines at Suvarnabhumi Air-
port in Bangkok (Photo B), where we
were accompanied by radios and sev-
eral large boxes containing brochures
and books with information about
SEISA and FGC.
On our arrival at Bhutan’s Paro airport
at around 10 a.m. local time, we were
welcomed by high-ranking government
officials along with officials of the Royal
Thimphu College (RTC), who helped us
transport our equipment and baggage
(Photo C). Our group took about two
hours to travel from Paro airport to
Thimphu along a narrow, winding, and
very steep road through the mountains,
but fortunately we had an experienced
and skilled driver to get us there safely.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 11

Photo D. Temporary antennas sprouting from the roof of a building at Royal Thimphu College. The beams and towers had
been in storage there since an earlier visit and operation by JH1AJT.

Photo E. DXpedition leader Zorro Miyazawa, JH1AJT, made

the first contact from A5A, contacting OH3YP in Finland. Most
of the remaining contacts were made by other team mem-
bers, as Zorro was occupied with meetings.

On arrival at the Royal Thimphu College (RTC), which was

where we would stay — and operate — for the next 10 days,
we were welcomed by the college’s executive director and
the manager. Following lunch, we could not wait to get start-
ed with our preparations for the DXpedition. Franz and I
began assembling the 3-element directional antenna for 30,
17, and 12 meters and the 4-element beam for 40, 20, 15.
and 10 meters, along with the aluminum mini tower with two
3-meter sections to be installed above the roof of the build-
ing in which we would be staying (Photo D). Officials from

12 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

Photo F. The two beams for the high HF bands were accompanied by vertical ground plane antennas for the low bands.
The antennas for 80, 40, and 30 meters are visible in this photo.

the RTC assisted us in both the assembly and installation of
the antennas and the tower, which had been used in 2012
during a previous A5A DXpedition led by Zorro, and had been
stored at the RTC in the meantime.
Where we were operating from in Bhutan, the altitude was
some 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level while Franz
and I normally live in low-lying areas where the altitude is
much less — not more than one meter above sea level in
Bangkok, for example. The rarefied air in Bhutan initially pre-
sented us with some health problems and we both had trou-
ble breathing and suffered from fatigue for the first two to
three days.
Assembly Issues
On the first day we spent six hours assembling and installing
the two beam antennas, with delays mainly due to problems
with U-bolts and aluminum plates of the antennas. Some

Photo G. Franz, DJ9ZB, on the air from A5A. Photo H. Author Champ, E21EIC, takes a turn at operating.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 13

 2017-18
calendar
15 months of value
January 2017 through
March 2018 Photo I. Visiting op Eiki, JH8JWF, spent two days at A5A,
operating mostly SSB.
Fifteen spectacular color
images of some of the
biggest, most photogenic
shacks and antennas from
across the country and...
ALSO THIS YEAR... a number of
favorite shots from #1
magazine thrown in for
good measure!

Calendars include dates of important Ham

Radio events, major contests and other operating
events, meteor showers, phases of the moon, and
other astronomical information, plus important and
popular holidays. CQ’s 15-month calendar (January
2017 through March 2018) is truly a must have!

Photo J. His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wongchuck

visited the station, posing here with JH1AJT.
$10.95
plus ship
ping

Shipping charges: USA $3; CN/MX $5; All other countries $10.

#1 #OMMUNICATIONS )NC
 7EST *OHN 3TREET (ICKSVILLE .9 
#ALL     OR &!8    Photo K. The prince even got on 17 meters, making a con-
HTTPSTORECQ AMATEUR RADIOCOM
tact with a station in Japan.

14 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

 parts were missing, so we had to revise
and modify what we had in hand in order
to make the antennas work. We
installed two stations capable of trans-
mitting simultaneously, using Kenwood
TS-950S transceivers, Expert 1.3K-FA
linear amplifiers and 4O3A Signature
bandpass filters.
At 1439z on the night of September
8, Zorro began transmissions from A5A
on 20-meter SSB (Photo E) with the first
QSO being with OH3YP in Finland. The
next morning, Franz and I began work
to install ground plane (GP) low-band
antennas for 160, 80, 40, and 30 meters
(Photo F) and after successful installa-
tion of these antennas, we began oper-
ating (Photos G and H). We also had a
guest operator, Eiki Satomi, JH8JWF
(Photo I), who helped us by operating
for two days in SSB mode. As for Zorro
and the SEISA/FGC officials from
Japan who traveled with us, they were
all very busy, with most of their time was
spent in meetings.

Photo L. His Royal Highness’s main reason for visiting was to sign a formal agree- A Royal Visit
ment between JH1AJT’s group and the Bhutan Shooting Federation for its September 16th was a special day dur-
support in helping the team compete in the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. ing our visit when His Royal Highness
Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wongchuck hon-
ored the A5A station with a visit (Photos

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Photo M. Champ and Franz took a little bit of time for some sightseeing in the
◆ Info: 614 866-4267
capital, Thimphu. Champ says the city has very few streets and no traffic lights! www.universal-radio.com

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 15

J and K) and showed his interest in radio communications by on the Foundation for Global Children website at <http://
making a contact with JA1NRH. Moreover, he also signed www.fgc.or.jp/english/>.
the MoU in the name of the Bhutan Shooting Federation with This was my first opportunity to visit Bhutan, a legendary
the SEISA Group to support and participate in the competi- country I had always wanted to visit. Bhutan is a land of high
tion when Japan hosts the Olympics in 2020 (Photo L). mountains and is very scenic and there is nowhere in Bhutan
where you can take a photograph that is not beautiful. In addi-
Some Sightseeing tion, the people in Bhutan are very courteous, friendly, smil-
Franz and I had a chance to visit the capital city of Thimphu ing, and helpful — I was very impressed. I have to thank
for a short period of time. We traveled about 30 minutes from Zorro, JH1AJT, who kindly invited me to join the A5A Micro
the RTC and found the city to be small with not many roads DXpedition 2016 team in Bhutan and I look forward to more
and no traffic lights (Photo M). Visitors to Bhutan should wit- such opportunities in the future.
ness the delicate grace of the traffic police giving hand sig-
nals, which could possibly be one national symbol of Bhutan.
The main street in the capital is about two kilometers long
and is filled with shops and souvenirs, most of which are
native handicrafts that are unique and very affordable (Photo
N). Apart from that, there are also fresh markets with many
fruits and vegetables (Photo O).
Propagation was very bad during the A5A DXpedition,
especially during the last three days, when the sunspot num-
ber was 24 and we could hardly hear any signals on HF. In
addition, Bhutan was at the end of its rainy season and some-
times the rain was so heavy that it interrupted communica-
tions. In all, A5A made a total of 15,370 QSOs and contact-
ed 111 countries.
As for myself, I had the opportunity to team up with SEISA
and The Foundation for Global Children (FGC), thanks to the
invitation from Zorro, JH1AJT, who has enabled me to join
DXpeditions on several occasions including XU1A, XZ1Z,
and XZ1J. You can support the good activities and projects

Young Ladies’ Radio League, Inc.

Since 1939 Photo N. Most of the shops in Thimphu offer unique and
very affordable native handicrafts. Here, a woman is weav-
For 75 years the Young Ladies’ ing a rug on a hand-operated loom.
Radio League, Inc. (YLRL) has
helped women find their voice
in Amateur Radio with members
of all ages and interests.
The YLRL sponsors a number
of certificates for both YLs and
OMs. Members can earn special YL Certificates.
YL-Harmonics is our bi-monthly publication
highlighting what women are doing in
Amateur Radio.
YLRL gives out scholarships to YLs each year.
For more information on the YLRL, the current
dues amounts, weekly YL Net locations or how to
join please go to our website at www.ylrl.org or
contact the Publicity Chairwoman, Cheryl Muhr,
NØWBV at n0wbv@earthlink.net. All Officer
information is also listed both on the
website and in each edition of the
magazine and you may contact any
Officer as well.
With thanks to the OMs who
encourage and support us.
Photo O. Many of the shops in Thimphu also offered a wide
Visit us at www.ylrl.org variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

16 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

 4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL
As we wait for the FCC to write final rules for the new 630-meter ham band,
you can start tuning up your station and your skills by listening for aircraft
beacons (NDBs) in the 200- to 500-kHz range. But catch them while you
can…N3AIU says they’re in the process of being phased out.

7XQLQJ8SIRU0HWHU5HFHSWLRQ
8VLQJ$LUFUDIW%HDFRQV
BY NICHOLAS M. ELIAS II, N3AIU

have always found LF/MF communication and radio sci- dedicated electronics, software, and antennas. From time to

I ence fascinating. I read every article that I can find about

transmitters, receivers, antennas, modes, propagation,
etc., at these frequencies. It represents radio before ama-
teur radio, and that interests me. Some like old cars, old guns,
or old radios. I like old frequencies.
The amount of time that I could spend on serious LF/MF
experimentation has always been limited. By serious, I mean
time, however, I have performed LF/MF receive tests using
on-hand ham gear. In this article, I describe these reception
results to provide a baseline of what is possible with typical
ham stations, which is apropos given the possibility of a new
630-meter amateur allocation1.
Experiment #1
Because I have been an itinerant astronomer and scientific
software developer for many years, my primary personal radio
until very recently was an IC-706 MkIIG. It is not perfect, espe-

Figure 1. Non-Directional Beacons,or NDBs, cover most of North America. The data are provided courtesy of KX5G and
Google Maps. KX5G provides a fine NDB search engine on <www.fivegulf.com/ndb>, allowing users to search versus
callsign or frequency. Leaving all fields blank produces this picture.

18 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

cially on CW, and it has been surpassed in features and per-
formance by newer models. Yet I admire and love it because
it crams a lot of radio into a small package, including a receiv-
er range that extends down to VLF frequencies.
At my Flagstaff, Arizona QTH, I use an 80-meter full-wave
horizontal loop, impedance matcher, and small HF linear
amplifier along with my ’706. It is a great general-purpose
setup that has allowed me to obtain many awards2. Would
it also work for LF/MF listening without any additional effort?
After all, sometimes luck swings in your favor, right? I decid-
ed to give it a try about 10 years ago. Unfortunately, luck
swung the other way. I had hoped to hear a number of air-
port non-directional beacons3 (NDBs) from North America
and perhaps even longwave broadcasts4 from Europe. Even
with the 20-dB on-board preamplifier engaged, I heard
almost no static, which was a bad sign. The only station I
managed to hear was PUU, the NDB at Pulliam Airport about
15 miles away. Yawn.
In retrospect, this result is not surprising. The sensitivity of
the ’706 is poor at LF/MF. And although my 80-meter loop
is a quiet antenna in a quiet location, it is not optimized for
LF/MF reception compared with specialized antennas such
as individual (or phased arrays of) amplified small tuned
loops and whips. I decided to postpone further experimen-
tation until I got new equipment.
Experiment #2
About a year ago, I purchased an IC-7600. It represents a
significant upgrade in receiver sensitivity and selectivity com-
pared to the IC-706MkIIG. After working some great HF/6m
DX, I remembered my previous LF/MF experiments with the
’706 and decided to repeat them with the ’7600. As before,
I used my 80-meter full-wave loop and impedance matcher.
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
I heard lots and lots of static. So far, so good. I then searched
for PUU but heard nothing5. I was discouraged and about
ready to give up, but I decided to keep tuning anyway. After
a little more searching I heard the faint signal of INE from
Montana on 521 kHz.6 That was really exciting!
Over the next few weeks, I logged 31 of these NDBs from
as far away as Iowa and Alberta (see Table 1). I was quite
pleased with these results. Perhaps ICOM has enhanced
the LF/MF sensitivity of their newer radios because they
anticipated a possible 600-meter amateur allocation?
Although I listened to NDBs with this setup for only about
a month, I was able to discover a number of patterns. I heard
some stations immediately after local sunset, but the best
listening times were after about 2200 local time. I’m not sure
if the propagation was always favorable toward these sta-
tions or if their transmitter power and/or antennas are supe-
rior to other stations.
Several of the stations — in particular FCH, BO, SOW, and
INE — were audible and stable every evening when I was
listening. All use higher power (exact numbers unknown)
except SOW, which is close to Flagstaff. I heard some sta-
tions briefly only on a single evening. Other stations alter-
nately faded in and out over time scales of 5-10 minutes for
a few hours then disappeared. Propagation was definitely
changing in these directions. Also, I noticed that it was often
difficult to hear the nearest stations, if I could hear them at
all. Propagation, transmitter power or antenna, and/or the
radiation pattern of the 80-meter loop are reasonable expla-
nations for this behavior.
Experiment #3
I recently moved to a townhouse in Virginia, and I brought
my IC-7600 with me. Unfortunately, there was no way I could
December 2016 • CQ • 19
 install an outdoor antenna, so I made a 20-meter, full-wave

>ÌiÕÀÊ,>` loop and tacked it around my ceiling on the top floor. I’ve
worked some HF DX with it, but as you can imagine it does
not work as well as my outdoor 80-meter loop in Arizona.
Would it work at LF/MF wavelengths?
I expected to hear at least a few NDBs because they are
much more densely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains
(Figure 1), assuming that most have not already been
decommissioned.
After numerous attempts, I managed to hear precisely zero
of them. Needless to say I was disappointed. A decent receiv-

Call Frequency Airport QTH

(kHz)
AM 251 (H) Amarillo, TX
INE 521 (H) Missoula – Konna, MT
/iÊ
VÌÛiÊ>½Ã AP
IP
260 (L)
201 (?)
Denver, CO
Mobile, AZ

>}>âi ATS
ITU
414 (M)
371 (H)
Artesia, NM
Great Falls – Truly, MT
AVQ 245 (H) Tucson, AZ
MOG 404 (M) Montague, CA
#1 is the magazine for AZC 403 (M) Colorado City, AZ
active hams, with a focus PN 515 (?) Ponca City, OK
on the practical. Every BO 359 (H) Boise, ID
article is clearly written POY 344 (M) Powell, WY
CEP 278 (M) Ruidoso-Capitan, NM
and aimed at involving QQ 400 (H) Comox, BC
you, the reader...whether DAO 410 (M) Fort Huachuca – Dragoo, AZ
it’s a story of operating  ` RPX 362 (M) Roundup, MT
>
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from some exotic
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location, an article to t RYN
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Tucson – Ryan, AZ
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deepen your understanding of
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fun-to-build project that will have practical use SLB 434 (M) Storm Lake–Buena Vista, IA
in your ham shack. FCH 344 (H) Fresno – Chandler, CA
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ULS 395 (M) Ulysses, KS
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L ÌÊ«ÀÌÊ>`Ê`}Ì>Êi`Ì ÃtÊ HQG 365 (M) Hugoton, KS

/iÊV ViÊÃÊÞ ÕÀÃt Table 1. NDBs heard from Arizona using an IC-7600 and an
80-meter full-wave loop. The parenthetical quantities are
Available in Print and Digital Editions transmitter power (L ~ 25W, M ~ 50W, 50W < H < 2000W).
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24 issues $66.95 $48.00 $98.95 DDP 391 (HH) San Juan-Dorado, PR
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17 West John Street
Hicksville, New York 11801 Table 2. NDBs heard from Virginia using an IC-7600 and an
516-681-2922 80 m inverted vee. The parenthetical quantities are powers
http://store.cq-amateur-radio.com (M ~ 50W, 50W <H < 2000W, and HH > 2000W).

20 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

 Figure 2. Part of the YouTube channel page of NDB recordings from my Arizona QTH.

# QTH Antenna RadioLocal QRN Results

1 Arizona, Flagstaff 80 m full-wave loop (outdoor) IC-706MkIIG, Quiet Nothing heard
impedance matcher
2 Arizona, Flagstaff 80 m full-wave loop (outdoor) IC-7600, Quiet 31 stations – farthest
impedance matcher from IA and AB
3 Virginia, townhouse 20 m full-wave loop (indoor) IC-7600, Noisy Nothing heard
impedance matcher
4 Virginia, @NR4M 80 m inverted vee IC-7600 Quiet 7 stations – farthest
from QC to PR

Table 3. N3AIU NDB reception summary.

er is clearly important, but a sensitive antenna at a quiet QTH
is even more important.
Experiment #4
I recently had the privilege of operating at the NR4M con-
test station. After I finished operating the 7th call area QSO
party, I searched for NDBs with my ’7600. This QTH is quiet
and remote, with a wide variety of antennas from which to
choose. NR4M has several directional phased arrays. I decid-
ed against using them because vertical antennas are noisi-
er on receive compared to horizontal antennas, plus their rel-
ative phases are optimized only for HF frequencies. The
Beverage antennas are somewhat short at LF/MF, but I
expected them to still be too directional with too low of a radi-
ation angle.
I decided to use an 80-meter inverted vee whose apex was
at 22 m and ends at 6 m. It represents a common antenna
available to many hams. No impedance matcher was avail-
able, but I didn’t think it was necessary for these tests. Starting
at sunset, I heard seven different stations over about three
hours. I summarize these results in Table 2.
There was some summer QRM, but it was not too bad. I
immediately heard nearby 50-watt stations MSQ and EZF. I
was disappointed that I couldn’t hear them during experiment
#3. RNB from New Jersey appeared a short time later for
several hours, but it faded in and out a lot. I briefly heard two
high-power stations, ML and YMW, from Quebec. Last, prop-
agation swung toward the Caribbean when high-power sta-
tions DDP and ZIN came up out of the noise for a few min-
utes. With more time, especially in winter, I am sure that I
could hear more stations.
Recordings
After listening to a few NDBs, it dawned upon me that I
could record them and make the recordings available to pos-
terity. It’s also the best way to prove that I heard them, since
most NDB station managers will not honor QSL requests, if
they even know what they are. Each beacon recording is
about two minutes long, which is sufficient to prove a sta-
tion’s presence in high QRM/QRN.
My recording hardware is very simple. I plugged the head-
phone output of the ’7600 into the 1/8-inch in-line input jack
of my laptop7. I carefully adjusted the radio’s volume control
in order to avoid overloading the soundcard input. I also
plugged USB headphones into the laptop to listen while
recording. The recording software can be equally simple,
namely the built-in sound recorder that comes with the
Windows 8 operating system. If you have a superior record-
ing setup by all means use it, but it is not necessary.
I created YouTube channels to make these NDB record-
ings available to others8,9. The Windows 8 sound recorder
creates WAV files, which cannot be uploaded directly to
YouTube. The simplest trick is to start with an image, add the
WAV file to it, and save the result as an MP4 file. I used

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 21

 Windows Movie Maker. Make sure that Hunting NDBs and other LF/MF sig-
you associate the image with the entire nals is a worthy challenge, just like
recording, since Movie Maker associ- HF/VHF DXing. Unfortunately, NDBs
ates only the first seven seconds by are slowly being decommissioned in
default. Uploading MP4s to YouTube is favor of GPS systems. Find and record
relatively straightforward (see Figure 2). them while you can. And please make
There is a prominent upload button. them available on social media so that
When pressed, one may enter the file future radio enthusiasts can hear them
name or drag/drop the file icon to the even after they’re gone.
designated location on the web page. I now come to the final important
While the file is uploading, I enter infor- question: Given my experimental re-
mation about the file, such as beacon sults, will a receiver comparable to an
,EW -C#OY ON !NTENNAS name, location, frequency, date, time. I IC-7600 and a large HF outdoor anten-
by Lew McCoy, W1ICP also encode this same information into na work well enough for receiving ama-
Unlike many technical the file name before uploading so that I teur signals on the 630-meter band?
publications, Lew presents can easily associate it with an entry in The answer ultimately depends on the
his invaluable antenna info my log. maximum allowable transmitter power
in a casual, non-intimidating and transmitter antenna configuration.
way for anyone! Epilogue The WD2XSH 600-meter experimen-
I summarize the results of my NDB tal radio group10 employed 20-watt
8.5 X 11 Paperback $19.95
reception experiments in Table 3. The transmitters (less than most NDBs) and
CD Version $14.95 trend is clear. Experiments #2 and #4 loaded verticals or Marconi tees (simi-
"UY BOTH FOR ONLY  successfully detected a significant lar to most NDBs). If most hams employ
number of NDBs up to about 2,500-kilo- at least these power levels and these
4HE .%7 3HORTWAVE meters distant. In Flagstaff, most of the antennas, the answer to the above
0ROPAGATION (ANDBOOK NDBs I heard used a transmitting power question is, “Yes.” I would not recom-
greater than 50 watts, and stations with mend, however, using the same large
by W3ASK, N4XX & K6GKU HF outdoor antenna for transmitting. I
higher power were heard more often,
A shortwave propagation as expected. At NR4M, I heard mostly managed to obtain 160-meter WAS
book with information on higher power stations, although if I lis- using only my 80-meter loop for both
sunspot activity, propagation tened for a month or more in the winter transmission and reception, but it
predictions, unusual I’m sure that I would hear more lower wasn’t easy.
propagation effects and do-it- power stations as well. If you are interested in joining an LF/
yourself forecasting tips. The LF/MF receiver of the IC-7600 MF club, consult the internet. One
8.5 X 11 Paperback $19.95 performed well, but I am sure that there prominent group is the Longwave Club
CD Version $14.95 are superior ones. Also, a large outdoor of America11. Its monthly newsletter
HF antenna is not the only choice. and websites are loaded with informa-
"UY BOTH FOR ONLY  tion about antennas, transmitters, re-
There are superior receive antennas,
such as active verticals and loops. A fur- ceivers, modes, reception reports, etc.
3LOPER !NTENNAS ther detailed discussion of these topics Whether you chase NDBs or hams on
By Juergen A. Weigl, OE5CWL is beyond the scope of this article. LF/MF, remember to have fun!
Single- and Multi-Element
Directive Antennas
for the Low Bands Notes:
1. Steve Johnson, WD8DAS, “You, Too, Can Work 630 Meters,” QST 2016
With calculations and
practical experience, this book January, pp. 76-78.
shows which basi 2. 280 DXCC entities, DXCC on 80-10 meters (including WARC), mode-spe-
concepts have to be cific DXCC (CW, phone, and digital), WAS on 160-10 meters (no WARC), WAS
considered for sloper using PSK31, 260 grid squares for VUCC on 6 meters, and 5BWAZ (167 band-
antennas for the low bands. zones). A fine setup, indeed!
6 X 9 Paperback $24.95 3. NDBs continuously send their callsigns using Morse code in an infinite loop.
CD Version $18.95 They are similar to amateur beacons, except that they employ MCW/AM instead
"UY BOTH FOR ONLY  of CW. Typical transmitter power ranges are from 25 to 2,000 watts.
4. While living in Germany, I listened to the BBC and Deutschland Funk on
longwave. Typical transmitter power ranges are tens to hundreds of kW.
Shipping & Handling: U.S. add $7 for the first item, 5. I later learned that PUU was decommissioned several years ago in favor of
$3.50 for the second and $2 for each add’l item. FREE a GPS-based system.
shipping on orders over $100 to one U.S. address.
CN/FN add $25 for 1st item, $10 for 2nd and $5 for each
6. NDB stations have callsigns consisting of two or three letters. In Table 1,
additional. Buy Both=single item! none of the U.S. station callsigns start with K, N, or W, as they would for other
services. The letters usually correspond loosely to the QTH names.
7. My laptop has a single 1/8-inch jack that can be configured for headphones,
CQ The Radio microphone, or in-line audio.
Amateur's Journal 8. Recordings from Flagstaff, AZ: <http://bit.ly/2dypuBg>
9. Recordings from NR4M: <http://bit.ly/2dLbbrF>
Phone 516-681-2922 10. <http://www.500kc.com/>
FAX 516-681-2926 11. <http://www.lwca.org/>
http://store.cq-amateur-radio.com

22 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

 From MILLIWATTS
$QQRXQFLQJ To KILOWATTS
SM

1RPLQDWLRQV2SHQIRUWKH More Watts per Dollar

SM

&4$PDWHXU5DGLR';DQG
&RQWHVW+DOOVRI)DPH Transmitting &
ach year CQ recognizes those who have made significant contributions to
Audio Tubes
E amateur radio in general, and to DXing and contesting in particular, creat-
ing three categories of awards. Nominations for all three Halls of Fame open
on January 1, 2017 and will close on March 1, 2017.
®

CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame

Amateur radio operators have been responsible for many advances in commu- COMMUNICATIONS
nications technology, and entire industries have been built on the foundation of
amateur radio experimentation and activity. In an effort to recognize outstanding BROADCAST
amateurs and their achievements, and help the public appreciate the far-reach-
ing and longstanding value of amateur radio in our society, we have established
the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. Nominations for the 2017 “class” are now
INDUSTRY
open. Members of the 2016 “class” were announced last May and appeared in
the July issue of CQ. AMATEUR
The CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame honors those whose technical or other
accomplishments have helped propel amateur radio forward, or whose achieve-
ments in other areas of life have helped improve ham radio’s reputation simply
through association. Nominees for the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame will be
judged on the basis of qualifying in one of two broad areas: Those individuals —
whether licensed amateurs or not — who have made significant contributions to
the amateur radio hobby; and those radio amateurs who have made significant
contributions to society in general. Nominees must have made significant contri-
butions of nationwide or worldwide impact.
Nominations for the Amateur Radio Hall of Fame may be made by clubs, orga- 3CPX800A7 4CX1000A 810
nizations, or individuals. State your candidate’s name, where to contact him/her 3CPX1500A7 4CX1500B 811A
if still living, for which category you are nominating him/her, and a brief one- to 3CX400A7 4CX3500A 812A
3CX800A7 4CX5000A 833A
two-paragraph description of this person’s accomplishments. Please include your
3CX1200A7 4CX7500A 833C
name and contact information as well. Email to <hall-of-fame@cq-amateur-
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radio.com> or mail to CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, 17 W. John St., Hicksville,
3CX1200Z7 4CX15000A 6146B
NY 11801. The official nomination form is on the CQ website <www.cq-amateur- 3CX1500A7 4CX20000B 3-500ZG
radio.com>. Please indicate in your email subject line for which hall of fame the 3CX3000A7 4CX20000C 3-1000Z
nomination is being submitted. 3CX6000A7 4CX20000D 4-400A
3CX10000A7 4X150A 4-1000A
CQ DX and Contest Halls of Fame 3CX15000A7 572B 4PR400A
Nominations for the CQ DX Hall of Fame and the CQ Contest Hall of Fame rec- 3CX20000A7 805 4PR1000A
ognize those amateurs who have made major contributions to DXing and con- 4CX250B 807 ...and more!
testing, respectively. The activities and accomplishments that qualify one for mem-
bership in these elite groups involve considerable personal sacrifice and can Se Habla Español • We Export
usually be described by the phrase “above and beyond the call of duty.”
Nominations for the Contest and DX Halls of Fame may be made by clubs, orga- Phone: 760-744-0700
nizations, or individuals, and must be submitted by March 1 of each year to be Toll-Free: 800-737-2787
considered.
A maximum of two (2) people may be inducted into each hall of fame (DX and
(Orders only) 800-RF PARTS
Contest) each year. Nominations for the CQ Contest and DX Halls of Fame should Website: www.rfparts.com
be directed to CQ DX Hall of Fame or CQ Contest Hall of Fame, 17 W. John St.,
Hicksville, NY 11801; or via email to <hall-of-fame@cq-amateur-radio.com>. Fax: 760-744-1943
Please indicate in your email subject line for which hall of fame the nomination is 888-744-1943
being submitted. Email: rfp@rfparts.com
If you feel someone has earned this recognition, please submit a nomination.
Please don’t assume that someone else will nominate the person you may have
in mind. Nominations from past years will not automatically be carried over.
We will announce this year’s selections at the Dayton Hamvention® in May.
Please help us recognize these “ham radio heroes” whose contributions have
helped shape our hobby, our nation, or our world. Remember, the nomination
deadline for all three CQ Halls of Fame is March 1, 2017.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 23

 4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL
The Field Programmable Gate Array, or FPGA, presents hams with a
“blank canvas” for designing control circuits, modulators/demodulators
and other systems, writes VE6VH. As an example, he offers the
following article on programming an FPGA to serve as a single-chip
repeater controller.

$6LQJOH&KLS5HSHDWHU&RQWUROOHU
8VLQJDQ)3*$
BY MARTIN ALCOCK,* VE6VH

rom its humble beginnings as a replacement for glue cle describes how a familiar amateur application, a repeater

F logic1, the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) has

ridden the wave of the ever-shrinking transistor to
become a platform for the digital designer similar to that of
a blank canvas to the artist. Imagine a device with a sea of
programmable elements that can implement any logic func-
tion and may be interconnected by a series of roadways to
become anything from simple logic or DSP (Digital Signal
Processing) applications to entire embedded processors and
you have an FPGA. Now stir into the mix other mega func-
tions such as flash memory, analog to digital converters and
random access memory, and you have today’s version,
which is an off-the-shelf component. To the radio amateur,
it presents an experimenting habitat to implement control
systems, modulators, and demodulators, and to inexpen-
sively crystallize any new mode into reality. To illustrate the
flexibility of these devices and an example design, this arti-
* email: <martin.alcock@praebius.ca>
controller, can be entirely realized in a single FPGA.
Figure 1 illustrates how the logic elements of the FPGA are
organized. On the left of the diagram is a cell that implements
a programmable logic function, by using an SRAM-based
lookup table, and a series of multiplexers which can steer
the output to a register or to another cell. The picture on the
right shows how the cells are organized and interconnected
inside the chip. The data to configure the device can either
be downloaded from an external microcontroller, read direct-
ly from an external memory, or be contained in flash mem-
ory inside the part itself.
In the early days of the FPGA, there were fewer than 100
logic cells in the device and each had to be programmed by
hand, along with the routing between them and the I/O cells.
In today’s devices, which can have densities of over 100,000
cells, that method is no longer practical. Along with the evo-
lution of the devices themselves, higher level languages have
evolved that focus on describing what the logic is going to
do, not how to lay out the chip. This part is taken over by

Interconnection
C1 C2 C3 C4 Resources
Logic Block

H1 DIN S/R EC I/O Cell

G4
Logic
G3 SD
Function G* D Q Q2
G2 of
G1-G4
G1
Logic EC
Function RD
of F*, G* 1
and H1 G
F4
Logic
F3 Function F* SD
D Q Q1
F2 of
F1-F4
F1
EC
RD
1
K F
(Clock)

Figure 1. Makeup of an FPGA.

24 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

 No Carrier or
Carrier and Sending ID
Carrier On + Inert
ID Sent 0 5
No carrier
Carrier On +
No timeout
Active Tail
1 2
DTMF
Detected
Timeout
No carrier
Timed
Out
4
To DTMF States
Figure 2. A repeater state machine.
electronic design automation that creates the configuration
data. The process involves translating the source language
into logic functions, called synthesis, and then implementing
those on the FPGA fabric, called the place and route. There
are two languages that are commonly used, VHDL (VLSI
High Level Description Language), and Verilog. VHDL was
developed by the military as a language to model systems,
and Verilog came from the ASIC world as a language to
describe functionality.
The two largest manufacturers are Xilinx and Altera (now
part of Intel). For this example, I chose an Altera MAX 10
FPGA, which has 8,000 logic elements, 386K of RAM, 48
parallel multipliers, a 16-channel analog-to-digital converter
and flash memory for configuration on chip. To realize the
design, I purchased an off-the-shelf development kit from
Arrow components, call the BeMicro Max 10, for the prince-
ly sum of $30. These kits are available online at <www.
arrow.com>, and can be delivered in a few days using a couri-
er or the postal service. They are also available in Canada,
but the shipping and import duties cost more than the kit!
Designing the Controller
To keep the design small enough to fit into an inexpensive
FPGA, I chose to implement a “nanoprocessor” rather than
a generic microprocessor, which is significantly larger and
would require writing application code in a language such as
C, along with having to debug it. Starting with some basic
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
Carrier On
Send ID
Timeout
No carrier
Idle
3
Carrier On No Timeout
Carrier On
analysis of the problem at hand and to understand what the
nanoprocessor will do is a matter of understanding the con-
cept of a Finite State Machine (FSM), how it applies to con-
trolling repeaters and how to implement it in our FPGA. A
definition can be found in Wikipedia as “a mathematical
model of computation used to design sequential logic cir-
cuits. It is conceived as an abstract machine that can be in
one of a finite number of states.” From this definition, if we
can map the functionality of the repeater into such a machine
and design a nanoprocessor to execute the machine, then
we will have a repeater controller.
Dealing with the abstract concept of an FSM can at first be
difficult, as they do not exist anywhere in the physical hard-
ware of the device. When the repeater is operating, the
receiver and transmitter do not change in their physical form
(other than maybe getting a little warm), but if we observe
what they are doing, such as the receiver or transmitter being
active or inactive, an ID or go ahead tone being sent out, or
waiting with the transmitter off while a long-winded trans-
mission concludes, we can see a set of states starting to
emerge. Starting from the time the power is applied, the
repeater is a state in which no carrier is detected at the receiv-
er and the transmitter is off.
The initial state of a repeater when first turned on is to be
“asleep,” waiting for a carrier to be detected at the receiver
for a certain period of time to “deglitch” it from turning on the
transmitter too soon, and once that condition has been sat-
isfied, the transmitter is turned on and the identifier starts up.
December 2016 • CQ • 25

Active State
Any other digit 1
DTMF
Detected
Digit 0 or 1
Digit+
DTMF
Detected
DTMF AP
Detected 1st Digit
8 9
Digit 2
Lead
Digit
11
Any other digit
Figure 3. DTMF Decoding state
When the ID is done, if no carrier is present it, sends a “go
ahead tone,” and if still nothing is heard, then it turns the
transmitter off. This statement has identified three states, two
conditions and two actions, which can be seen in Figure 2.
There are six states, the first, or asleep state is called “inert,”
where the machine begins. The arrows in the diagram rep-
resent where it can go next, and the conditions that have to
be satisfied in order to go there. The machine remains in the
inert state until it has finished sending its ID, after which it
goes to active. Then, when the carrier drops, it changes to
the tail state, then to idle if no carrier is heard, and finally
sending the ID again and back to the inert state. A long-wind-
ed QSO will send it to the timed-out state, where it waits until
the carrier has gone away before returning to the tail state.
From the diagram, you can also see that each state has a
unique number attached.
Adding DTMF Decoding
To complete the sequencer and make it a more attractive
controller, detecting and decoding DTMF needs to be added
to the picture. This function can be viewed as mutually exclu-
sive to the basic functions, as you will always have to have
the carrier on to send a DTMF tone, which means it will also
be in the active state when a tone is heard. Therefore, we
can have a second set of states dedicated to decoding the
tone sequence, which is entered from the active state and
returns there once the decoding is complete.
Figure 3 shows the additional states for decoding DTMF
tones. For this application, we will add an autopatch and some
three-digit control functions. When a tone is detected, the
machine leaves the active state and enters a tone-detect
state, in which it waits until the digit is no longer being heard.
To activate the autopatch, a single asterisk “*” is entered on
the keypad. Once done, we are now in a state waiting for the
first digit, and in this application, we want to bar operator and
long distance calls, so if a zero or one is entered, we imme-
diately go back to the active state in the basic functions. If it
26 • CQ • December 2016
No carrier
Digit #
AP
Digits
10
Any other digit
3rd Digit
13
2nd Digit
12
Any other digit
is not, we can then enter another state in which the call takes
place, returning to the active state if a “#” is entered or a time-
out is encountered. Similarly, control functions can all start
with the same digit, in this case 2, and require that three dig-
its be entered. On detecting the third digit, an action is taken.
This sequence could be extended by simply adding an addi-
tional state.
Designing the Engine
Implementing this in an FPGA requires that we build an
engine, or sequencer, that can store the current state, make
decisions based on the inputs, and take the appropriate
action. This tells us that the sequencer will only need two
instructions, one to jump on some external condition and one
to change an output. Data for the engine can be stored in a
ROM (read-only memory), whose address is generated from
the state number in the upper bits, and a counter to supply
the lower bits. A standard 8-bit ROM will suffice, as we only
need 12 states and four bits would be enough to represent
them. The ROM contents can be mapped out to define either
of the two required instructions. The counter can run from a
crystal divided down to a fraction of a second, so that
sequencing through the instructions represents increments
of time.
Figure 4 represents the component parts of the sequencer,
which you can see only requires two counters, two multi-
plexers, and three latches. At the top right of the diagram is
a latch that holds the current state number, a counter and a
multiplexer to include the DTMF digit that forms the address.
The data from the ROM is latched and divided into three
fields; four bits contain the next state, three bits are allocat-
ed to multiplex the inputs, and a single bit determines whether
to sense an input or change an output. The inputs consist of
detecting carrier on and off, a jump always or never (which
has the effect of waiting for one clock tick), sensing an exter-
nal input, detecting a DTMF tone, or the short and long-wind-
ed QSO timers. The spare input can be used to change the
Visit Our Web Site
 Clock DTMF Digit

Reset Enable Jump Reset Latch

Timeout
Counter Counter State Latch

MSB

Select
2:1 Multiplexer
Digit Timer

Timed Out

Carrier On

Carrier Off
8:1 Sel
Mux Ena Ena
Aux Input Ena

DTMF Det Latch Tx PTT

Phone Patch
Vdd Always
Out 1-4
Never

3 4 1
8 bit
Latch

Data Addr

ROM

Figure 4. Block diagram of the sequencer engine.

basic operation such as the ID sequence when battery power
is being used, or detecting a ring for a reverse autopatch.
The outputs consist of an enable for the tone generator, a
tone selection bit for either the ID or the go-ahead tone, and
the transmitter PTT. The rest can be used to enable the
autopatch and up to four link transmitters or other functions.
Any successful state jump has the effect of resetting both the
counter and timers.
Implementing the FPGA
Figure 5 is a block diagram of the entire design that is to be
implemented in the FPGA. All the functions with the excep-
tion the digital-to-analog converter are on the chip, which is
implemented on the BeMicro board.
The first task in implementing the design is to be able to
build the ROM contents, for this purpose a Windows appli-
cation was developed which enables editing and simulating
the operation of the sequencer operation to debug it. A sim-
ple set of “instructions” was designed to mnemonically rep-
resent what the sequencer is going to do, which are a set of
conditional jumps and setting the outputs. A screen shot of
the ROM builder program is shown in Figure 6, illustrating
the first few instructions of the inert state, and decoded into
instructions to make them more readable. A counter fre-
quency of 25 Hz was chosen, which yielded a readable
cadence for the identifier and a good reaction time to exter-
nal stimuli, the short timer was set to 10 seconds and the
long to 2 minutes.
Once we have the ROM contents, the next task is to cre-
ate the sequencer in a form that can be implemented in the
FPGA. Of the two languages available, VHDL and Verilog,
the latter was chosen as it is more suitable for synthesis and
has a C-like syntax, so any experienced programmer can
pick it up. Figure 7 shows the Verilog code that executes the
sequencer instructions. The three fields decoded from the
ROM contents are the instruction type, the operation and the
target state. The multiplexers and counters are implied.
As with any development process, the steps after coding
involve debugging and testing. In the FPGA world, the steps
are similar, except we first use a simulator to debug the
design, which is essentially a software-driven logic analyz-
er, with which we can “probe” each variable in the design,
and see how they change over time. As this is software, we
have the luxury of adding any number of probes into our

28 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

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Rx Audio Tx Audio
A/D + D/A

Digital
Tone
DTMF
Generator
Detector

Det Digit Sel Ena

Carrier Det

Tx PTT
Aux Input MSequencer
Phone Patch
Out 1-4

Addr Data

Rom
Memory

Altera Max 10FPGA

Figure 5. Block diagram of the repeater controller.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 29

Verilog code, the only limit is the amount
of memory on your system to store
them, and these days that is not much
of a limitation. Figure 8 shows how the
sequencer was simulated, executing
the sequence of instructions shown in
Figure 6.
FPGA, we are not bound by bytes or
words, so we can design any number-
ing system with an arbitrary number of
bits that we choose.
Once we have a model of the basic
algorithm running, the next step it to
code it in Verilog so that we can syn-
thesize it. The steps are similar to that
which was used by the model, we can
use ModelSim for debugging it, but first
we need to generate some test data.
That can be done by going back to our
model and writing the data to a file,
which is a simple program modification,

Completing the Design

To implement the DTMF decoder, a
Goertzel decoding algorithm was
employed. There is a plethora of infor-
mation available about this algorithm
online, so I will not discuss it here.
Instead I will focus on how to implement
it in the FPGA.
The first step is modeling of the algo-
rithm using a “perfect world” to ensure
that it works. This can be done either with
a CAD (computer automated design)
tool such as MatLab or MathCAD, if you
have access to either of them and know
how to drive them, or by writing a C pro-
gram for this purpose.
To create the perfect world, the pro-
gram uses floating-point arithmetic,
which alleviates the implementation
issues. As this is not practical for our
FPGA, which does not have any float-
ing-point capability unless we build it,
the next step is to re-implement it using
fixed point, or integer, arithmetic. In the Figure 6. Sequencer ROM builder program.

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AeroStream Bursts Onto the Transceiver Market
AeroStream Communications has entered the amateur radio
transceiver market with its CommRadio CTX-10 QRP trans-
ceiver. AeroStream, which manufactures its products in
Colorado, debuted into the hobby radio market in 2013 with the
introduction of the CommRadio CR-1 receiver and its follow-
up, The CR-1a SDR (software defined radio).
The new high performance CTX-10 transceiver features
embedded SDR technology, low current consumption, compact
size (5.7 x 1.6 x 6.7 inches and weighing in at 2.2 lbs.) and sim-
ple operation.
The SSB/CW transmitter covers the amateur bands from 160
to 10 meters and the power output is adjustable between 1 and
10 watts. The receiver tunes USB/LSB/CW/AM/FM continu-
ously from 200 kHz to 30 MHz.
Superb self-contained portable operation is achieved with its
three internal 2600 mAh Li-ion batteries, providing 28.8 watt-
hours of operation. A built in intelligent charger assures prop-
er battery management.
An internal antenna tuner further enhances portability. The
efficient and sharp OLED display is readable in low or high light-
ing conditions. Excellent durability is achieved by robust alu-
minum cabinet construction featuring metal knobs and a pre-
mium quality optical tuning encoder. A built in CW reader is also
included.
Pricing of the CTX-10 was not available as of press time with
availability scheduled for early 2017, pending FCC approval.
For more information, visit <www.universal-radio.com> or
<www.commradion.com>.
.OTE “What’s New” is not a product review and does not constitute
a product endorsement by CQ. Information is primarily provided by
manufacturers/vendors and has not necessarily been independently
verified.

30 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

and then using that as input to our sim-
ulation. In addition, if we dump all the
variables at each stage of the model,
we can produce a set of step-by-step
intermediate results that we can com-
pare against the simulation results.
Once that is correct we now have a ver-
sion that can be targeted for the FPGA.
The tone generator can be realized in
a numerically controlled oscillator,
which consists of a sine rom lookup
table and an adder. Stepping one loca-
tion at a time through the ROM will give
us the lowest tone possible, increasing
the step size will generate higher fre-
quencies. For this application I chose to
use 400 and 800 Hz for the tones to
make them distinctive. The tones are
simply summed into the audio path
between the A/D and D/A components.
Moving to the Hardware
Now that we have all the Verilog code
written and simulated, we have a good
//————————————————————————————————
// run the sequencer
//————————————————————————————————
always @(posedge clk)
if(reset == 1’b1)
begin
seq_ctr[11:0] <= 12’b0;
state[3:0] <= 4’b0;
iobits[7:0] <= 8’b0;
end
else
begin
if(seq_ena == 1’b1)
// decode an instruction
begin
// I/O first
if(instr_type == 1’b0)
begin
seq_ctr[11:0]
if(operation[2:0] == 3’b001)
begin
iobits[ioaddr[2:0]] <= iostate; // set/clear bit
end
end
// jump instruction
else
begin
if(jumpcond[operation[2:0]] == 1’b1)
begin
state[3:0] <= target_state[3:0];
seq_ctr[11:0]
end
else // unsatisfied jump; go to next instruction
seq_ctr[11:0]
end
end
end
Figure 7. Verilog code for the sequencer.
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
idea that it should work on the hardware.
Using the Quartus development tool,
we can build the key components such
as the ROM and A/D converter, then
synthesize and place and route the
design. The final step is to ensure that
we meet the timing requirements, which
automatically done during the build
process by a timing analyzer. We can
tell the tools which part we are using,
and how we want our signals to be
mapped to the various pins.
Once the place and route is complete,
we can now use a USB connection to
the board to download the design and
test it. There are pushbuttons and LEDs
on the board that can be used to verify
it on a standalone basis, and hooking
up a tone pad to the A/D input and a
loudspeaker to the D/A output will
enable us to hear the ID and go ahead
tones.
Get Your
However, what if it does not run when
we download it? For this purpose the
Novice On
Call CQ NRRR
Feb 18 thru 27, 2017
cw on 10, 15, 40 & 80M
www.novicerigroundup.com
// reset mem ctr
// set state to zero
// reset I/O bits
// run on clock enable
<= seq_ctr[11:0] + 1’b1;
// this address only
NEVER ACCEPT SECOND BEST
FOR YOUR TOWER PROJECT!
GO WITH THE ORIGINAL -
<= 12’b0; DESIGNED & MANUFACTURED
IN THE USA
<= seq_ctr[11:0] + 1’b1; WWW.ROHNNET.COM
DISTRIBUTORS ON
THE WEB SITE
SALES@ROHNNET.COM
December 2016 • CQ • 31
 Figure 8. Simulating the sequencer design.

manufacturer provides us with an in-cir-

what’s new cuit probe called “Signal Tap,” which is
also provided with the software. To use
it is simply a matter of re-compiling and
Miniature Operational J-36 Bug configuring it to decide what is going to
Fans of the World War II-era J-36 key or “Bug” can now purchase a miniature ver- be probed. The probes use on-chip
sion that is also operational. Lee Hutchins, KA6IRL, is now handmaking a half-sized memory which means that only a small
replica that he dubs the QRP J-36. amount of data can be probed at any
The QRP J-36 has all of the adjustable features of its larger ancestors and is con- one time, however it was sufficient to
structed of over 100 component parts. All tension limit and contact elements are pre- debug the design.
sent. Bright nickel-plated brass furniture, solid silver contacts, an operating “short- In conclusion, I have illustrated how an
ing switch” and many other features make this key truly unique. amateur repeater control application can
The overall size is 4-1/4 inches long, 1-3/4 inches wide, 1-7/8 inches high and
weighs a substantial half pound. The base is a black “wrinkle” finish that is comple-
be realized as a finite state machine and
mented with a solid brass data plate that is serial numbered. The keys are individ- implemented in a minimum logic se-
ually serialized to provide authenticity. This is a very limited production of a collec- quencer, and how it and other required
tor quality key. components can be implemented in a
The QRP J-36 is available now with a suggested retail price of $135, which includes single FPGA using an inexpensive off-
shipping to anywhere in the U.S. For more information, contact: Lee Hutchins, the-shelf development board. Code for
KA6IRL, 23 Linda Dr, Oroville, 95966. Phone: (530) 533-2872. Email: <ka6irl@ the project, the ROM builder program,
gmail.com>. Website: <http://qrpj36.com>. Goertzel models and further documen-
tation can be found on my website,
<www.ve6vh.org>, if you want to inves-
tigate it further. Use of these devices by
radio amateurs is by no means limited to
this application alone, as other future dig-
ital modes can also be realized, the only
real limits are the size of the device and
the imagination!

Notes:
1. According to The Free Dictionary,
glue logic is a simple logic circuit that is
used to connect complex logic circuits
together.

32 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

$QQRXQFLQJ
&4:RUOG:LGH:3;577<&RQWHVW
February 11-12
Starts 0000 UTC Saturday; Ends 2359 UTC Sunday
Log Submission Deadline: February 17, 2017
Join more than 15,000 participants from over 200 DX entities around
the world.
he CQ World Wide WPX RTTY Contest (CQ WPX RTTY)
T offers 48 hours of non-stop DX chasing fun. Whether you
are competing for awards, looking for a few new band-
countries, or simply filling the logbook, the CQ WPX RTTY
Contest has something for everyone. Check out the
Tribander/Single Element and Rookie Overlay Categories for
even more chances to win a certificate.
Contest Basics
Working stations is easy. Exchange and log signal report and
a progressive serial number beginning with ‘001’, e.g., DL1ABC
599 123 123.
Contacts are only valid on the 3.5-, 7-, 14-, 21-, and 28-MHz
amateur bands (no WARC bands), and may only be made using
45.45-baud, 170-Hz shift Baudot RTTY (no PSK or other key-
board modes).
Scoring
Final score is based on QSO points earned for each contact
times the number of multipliers worked.
Multipliers are each unique callsign prefix, which is the let-
ter/numeral combination forming the first part of the callsign. This
prefix multiplier is counted once per log, not on each band.
Contacts with other continents count three points each.
Contacts with the same continent, but different country, count
two points. Same-country contacts count one point. In addition,
these contact points are doubled for contacts made on the 3.5-
or 7-MHz bands.
Don’t worry about calculating your score; the contest log-
checking program will do that for you when you submit a log.
Entry Categories
The competition is divided into Single Operator and Multi-
Operator categories. All entry categories may use QSO alert-
ing, i.e., all entries are “Assisted” whether QSO alerting is used
or not. Single Operator categories also offer two additional
Overlay categories, which may be entered IN ADDITION TO the
normal Single Operator category.
Single Operator (all bands or any single band) – only the
one operator finds, makes, and logs all contacts.
• High power: Up to 1,500 Watts
• Low power: 100 Watts or less
• QRP: 5 Watts or less
Tribander/Single Element Overlay – Allows the use of a
multi-band, multi-element antenna with one feedline for the 14-,
21-, and 28-MHz bands, plus a single element antenna for each of the
3.5- and 7-MHz bands. One example is a 3-element tri-band
antenna for 14, 21, and 28 MHz plus an Inverted-V wire dipole
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
for 3.5 MHz and another one for 7 MHz. Another example is a
single-element, multi-band vertical antenna for all 5 bands or a
fan dipole of single element dipoles for each band using a sin-
gle feedline.
Rookie Overlay – Open only to operators who were first
licensed as radio amateurs less than three (3) years before the
date of the contest. Indicate date licensed in the soapbox field
of your log.
Multi-Operator – More than one person is involved in oper-
ating the station.
Single-Transmitter: This category allows one transmitter to
work any station. It may change bands as many as 8 times per
hour. Note: A second transmitter may be used to work multipli-
ers only. This category has some very specific restrictions so
please read the full rules carefully.
• High power: Up to 1,500 Watts
• Low power: 100 Watts or less
Two-Transmitter: Allows the use of two transmitted signals
on two bands. Each station may change bands as many as 8
times per hour.
Multi-Transmitter: Allows the use of one transmitted signal
on each band.
Awards
Electronic certificates will be made available for everyone who
submits an entry. Handsome plaques may be sponsored for the
top finishers in each category. Unsponsored plaques may be
purchased by contacting the contest director.
Submitting Your Log
Electronic logs should be in the Cabrillo format. Upload your
log on the Web at <www.cqwpx.com/logcheck/>. The website
also includes a utility to convert your ADIF format log file if need-
ed. See full rules for instructions regarding paper logs.
All entries must be sent WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS after the end
of the contest: No later than 2359 UTC February 17, 2017.
Resubmitting an entry after the deadline will result in it being
considered as a late log.
Only one entry is permitted for each callsign. Any log submis-
sion will replace any previous submissions.
Full Rules
The complete rules of the CQ WPX RTTY Contest are avail-
able in different languages on the Web at <www.cqwpxrtty.
com/rules.htm> and in English on the CQ magazine website at
<http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com>. Please review the rules and
the frequently asked questions before the contest. Questions may
be submitted by email to <questions@cqwpxrtty.com>.
December 2016 • CQ • 33
 4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL
“Why do things fail?” If you don’t ask yourself this question, you are
missing one of the most exciting parts of your electronic hobby.

6KHUORFN,QYHVWLJDWHV
7KH)DLOHG6WDWHRI(OHFWURQLFV
BY PAUL SIGNORELLI,* WØRW

hen you have a piece of equip-

W ment that fails, do you just

throw it away?
Analysis of the failed item can be the
most interesting part of your electronic
experience. It can lead to new designs
or modifications to improve your equip-
ment. It can also save you lots of time
and money.
Most of our current electronic equip-
ment is designed to be replaced at the
subassembly or printed wiring board
assembly level, but that doesn’t prevent
you from trying to find the root cause of
a failure at the piece part level.
Sometimes your investigation will lead
to a simpler repair action that will save
the subassembly or unit. Design and
construction of electronic components
can be studied on Wikipedia at
<http://bit.ly/2deJrzH>. It has a large
database on how these components Photo A. The plastic bushing on this transistor was crushed during mounting and
work. didn’t seat properly on its heat sink. Re-seating the transistor solved the
problem of high-temperature shutdown.
Sherlock’s Science of
Deduction which nobody by any chance ever transistor in a push-pull switching
It is keen to apply the precepts of observes.” power supply. Female black widows
advanced detective procedures in have been known to eat their mates.
these matters, so we turn for guidance Statement of the Cases The male spiders still have not figured
to perhaps the greatest detective of all I have left out all the flummery and ver- this out.
time, Sherlock Holmes. bose descriptions that Dr. Watson This failure occurred on a TO39 power
would have added if he were recording transistor (2N3553) that had a big cop-
• “It is a capital mistake to theorize these stories, so you will have imagine per slug inside the case that was
before one has data. Insensibly one your own settings. However, some of crimped in place. The case had three
begins to twist facts to suit theories, these stories did begin “on a dark and dimples on the side of the case that
instead of theories to suit facts.” (A stormy night.” grabbed the internal copper header. In
Scandal in Bohemia) this singular case, one transistor in the
• “When you have eliminated the • “Many of these singular happenings circuit burned up and shorted. It looked
impossible, whatever remains, howev- have never before until now been fully like secondary avalanche breakdown,
er improbable, must be the truth.” (The dealt with in any public print.” ± S.H. collector-to-emitter short. There was
Sign of Four, Ch. 6) significant melting of the die. The tran-
• “The world is full of obvious things The Episode of the ‘Black sistor was replaced and after a few tem-
Widow’ Transistor perature cycles, the newly-installed
One of the most devious failures ever transistor failed again in the same spot.
* email: <w0rw1@msn.com> encountered involved the “black widow” Aha! The spider got another one.

34 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

 The root cause of the failure was
traced to the “good” transistor in the
push-pull pair. It was opening up and
latching the other one “on.” The crimp
on the header can was the only electri-
cal connection to the collector and when
it opened up, the other transistor was
turned “on” with full DC current that just
melted it. So remember, in any push-
pull circuit failure, the “good” part might
really be the “bad” part, however im-
probable it may seem.
The Midnight Flight of Denny
Dendrite
It was a dark and stormy night, really,
when the intrepid Denny Dendrite elec-
tronic sleuth made his way carrying a
dendrite to a secret laboratory in
Washington D.C. for analysis. Arriving
at 3 a.m. after a transcontinental flight
in the winter, a dozen government in-
vestigators stood ready at their scan-
ning electron microscopes and Auger
electron spectroscopes.
The defect had just been confirmed
on an integrated circuit that had used
leaded (Pb) glass sealing material. The
surface of the sealing glass had pro-
vided a platform for pure lead dendrites
to grow from one IC lead to another
under high impedance electrification.
These are easily visible using a micro-
scope. Indeed, many You Tube videos
show the growth progress. See <http://
bit.ly/2eakGBL> for an example.
These types of failures are frequently
induced by taking a unit from a cold and
dry environment into a warm and humid
one, causing the unit to go through the
dew point. When that happens, water
condenses out of the air and can cause
dendrites. There is usually enough car-
bon dioxide (CO2) in the air or acidic
residue on a circuit board to start a den-
drite growing. So do not apply power to
a unit that has gone through or is going
through the dew point until it is completely
dry. Remove any memory battery back-
up battery or it will cause new dendrites.
The use of “Freeze Mist” for trouble-
hooting is highly discouraged because
this causes frost to build up on the com-
ponents and they all get wet as they
come back through the dew point. That
can cause dendrites that will mask the
clue being investigated. Elementary,
isn’t it? If you must lower the tempera-
ture of a part, use an ice cube in a plas-
tic bag.
The Intermittent Green Radio
This radio performed perfectly for many
years, but it was infrequently used. After
field-testing in hot weather, the unit
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
would fail after a few hours of operation.
The radio has many internal protection
circuits, so it just shut down and no inter-
nal damage was found. The radio would
work fine the next day.
Troubleshooting began at the power
supply circuit and, using a heat gun, the
unit could be made to fail quickly when
it was hot. Switching to a soldering iron
to gently heat the components, the fail-
ure was isolated to a tantalum capacitor.
The capacitor was physically reversed in
its circuit and after replacement, there
was no more intermittent high-tempera-
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ture failure. The part had simply been
placed in the unit with reversed polarity.
Tantalum capacitors typically can oper-
ate for many hours in the reverse direc-
tion, but will eventually short out.
The printed circuit board did not have
any polarity markings on it and it
escaped visual inspections. This ex-
pensive radio was repaired for the cost
of a $2 part. Many articles about capac-
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December 2016 • CQ • 35
 Another similar failure was caused by an overheating TO-
220 transistor. This transistor was mounted with small insu-
lated plastic bushing to keep the mounting screw from short-
ing to the chassis. During assembly, the bushing/washer
became smashed under the transistor body (see Photo A),
and this prevented the TO-220 transistor from fully seating
on its heat sink. The transistor was not able to dissipate the
heat on its case and that caused the radio power supply to
shut down. Reseating the transistor flush onto the heat sink
fixed the unit. This episode was further detailed in my other
monogram, “Death on the Trail.”

The 3.5% Solution

It was a warm and sunny day on the island of St. Lucia when
a rogue wave crashed over the rocks and drenched the HF
operating site. The main radio was soaked and was inoper-
ative. You could almost hear the dendrites growing. The
famous (Old Goat) operator rushed the radio to a clean water
source to rinse it and flush the saltwater. Photo B. The red arrow points to an example of circuit
Ocean saltwater is about 3.5% saline. After drying the radio, failure due to electrostatic discharge (ESD).
it fortunately began to work after a few days. The normal lab
procedure would be to wash it with distilled water, then an
alcohol rinse followed by a vacuum bake. If a vacuum bake
is not possible, the radio could be dried in an oven with MIL-
D-3464 desiccant or a bag of rice.

The Curse of the Tin Whiskers

If you have a good microscope, with a magnification of at least
15X, you can find these tin whiskers in your old parts bin. Just
look for an old USECO standoff. These old insulating turret
standoffs were tin plated and have, over the years, grown tin
whiskers. You can see them growing off the top of the tin-plat-
ed terminal. They are extremely small (perhaps 1/20 the diam-
eter of a human hair but up to 1/4-inch long) and are straight
and shiny. If you catch them in light reflection, the whiskers are
easy to see. There are several tin whisker videos on You Tube:
<http://tinyurl.com/o8whamx>. You can also find them on
Wikipedia at <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_Whiskers> and
at <https://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/>.
The whiskers can cause shorts and multipactor discharges.
Photo C. The collector lead in this transistor is connected
It also occurs on silver and zinc plated parts. Using parts that
to the header by a pressure point held fast by glass sealing
have a small percentage of lead mixed with tin eliminates this
powder. After time, the connection can fail.
problem.

The Scintillation of a Tantalum Capacitor

Have you ever seen the “scintillation” of a tantalum capaci-
tor? You can be “Sherlokian” yourself and find these defects
and see what makes these things fail. Wikipedia is a great
place to learn about the construction, application, and
failure modes of components. Check out: <http://bit.ly/
2edcaGo> for a briefing on tantalum capacitors.
You can see the capacitor scintillation on a transistor curve
tracer. Just slowly raise the voltage on the capacitor to three
times over its rating, with about 1,000 ohms of resistance in
series and it will scintillate right before your eyes. The man-
ganese dioxide (MnO2) melts down and plugs the tantalum
(Ta) dielectric performing its well-known “self-healing” effect.
If you don’t have enough series resistance in your circuit,
this capacitor can permanently short or explode. If you
don’t have a curve tracer you can see pictures at <http://
bit.ly/2dWpGyw>.
Sometimes the capacitor manufacturer puts the wrong tan-
talum slug in the case or marks the case with the wrong rated Photo D. A silver pellet “nail head” on the collector lead of
voltage. You can strip the manganese dioxide (MnO2) off of this transistor provides a much more reliable connection over
a failed slug and tell by the color of the slug what the real the long term.

36 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

tantalum oxide thickness is and what its
real voltage rating should be.
One of the best ways to ensure that
your replacement tantalum capacitor
doesn’t fail, without redesigning the cir-
cuit to make it more reliable, is to “surge
test” the capacitor. There are dozens of
papers on this technique at the NASA
Electronic Parts and Packaging (NEPP)
Program Website: <http://go.nasa.gov/
2eEb0D1>.
The Electrostatic Discharge
League
There isn’t enough room in this mono-
graph to cover the many ESD failure
analysis techniques. A curve tracer is
all you need to see MOSFET input/gate
damage. See one example of an ESD
strike in Photo B. Go to the Electrostatic
Discharge Association website for
more training information: <http://bit.ly/
2dERMc4>.
The main ESD rules are: Keep your
wrist strap on (your body grounded) and
your soldering iron grounded. Remem-
ber, “The contact and separation of un-
like materials causes static.”
The Case of the Open Case
Cold temperature failures of the vener-
able (1975-1980) JANTX2N2222A and
2N2907 transistors led to the discovery
of this major manufacturing defect. One
qualified manufacturer was making the
Long periods of temperature cycling
will also cause solder fractures. Don’t
leave your gear out in your unheated
shack over the winter. These fractures
cause open circuits and can be seen
with a microscope. Many solder joint
failures can be induced by subjecting
the item to very cold temperatures for a
long time and then applying circuit
power while they are still cold.
Multiple Cases, Same Solution
Many cases have the same defect at the
root cause. This can provide many ben-
efits to the electronic sleuth, making
detection and solution easier.
• Many TS-440 radios have been
found with similar symptoms. They fre-
quently lose VCO lock on 28 MHz and
just display dots. This is caused by a
materials defect in the VCO cans. The
manufacturer used foam potting mate-
rial to keep the components stable for
mobile operation. This foam fooled a
few NASA space engineers, too. The
foam reverts into conductive sticky
goop after 10 or 20 years in humid envi-
ronments. The conductive foam shorts
out all the high impedance circuits. The
repair is to simply remove the goop and
clean out the VCO cans. It is called
“reversion” but it is really “degradation.”
• Many foreign engineers use polar-
ized aluminum capacitors as audio cou-
pling capacitors. Audio is AC and the
This material is used on many power
semiconductors.
• Some capacitors have carcinogenic
or acid electrolyte.
• If it smells bad, throw it out.
• Don’t mess with mercury relays or
866 mercury vapor tubes.
• Don’t dissect radioactive sources.
4HE %PILOGUE AND !DDITIONAL #LUES
• Wikipedia <http://bit.ly/2deJrzH>
• The Jim Williams Papers, EDN 1991
• Trouble Shooting Analog Circuits,
Robert A. Pease, National Semicon-
ductor Corp, 1989
• IEEE Reliability Physics Proceed-
ings (Read all you can find)
• International Symposium for Testing
and Failure Analysis (ISTFA) Proceed-
ings (Read all you can find), 1970 to
2000
• MIL-STD 1580A Destructive Phy-
sical Analysis
‡ The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,
Sir A. Conan Doyle
“I can’t give you a more detailed
account of these cases without referring
to my notes. I do not know anything
essential that has been left unex-
plained.” ± S. H.
The game is afoot.
ADVANCED SPECIALTIES INC.
Orders/Quotes 1-800-926-9HAM
TO-18 headers by filling the bottom with
a glass sealing powder. You probably
Ê

/
"
have some in your junk box. The collec-
tor lead connection to the header, and
thus to the transistor die, was a pressure
point contact (see Photo C) that was held
fast by the contracting sealing glass dur-
ing formation of the seal.
The reliable construction design of
other manufacturers had a silver pellet
on the tip of the collector wire (see Photo
D) and it made a reliable metallurgical
“nail head” weld to the header during the
glass seal operation. This problem was
also found on ground leads on TO-5
cases.
iÊ
7Ê
<Ê

When part replacement was not an
negative part of the audio voltage can ÜÜÜ°>`Û>Vi`ëiV>ÌiðiÌ
de-plate the capacitor dielectric, caus- Ê" 
ing audio distortion. The symptom is
VX-8DR
usually reported as, “transmitter works Quad Band
well but receiver has distorted audio.” I Submersible
have purchased several radios with this
Hand Held
FT-7900R
same symptom for junk prices and by Dual-Band Mobile
50/45W Transceiver
changing one capacitor, I now have a
AMATEUR RADIO EQUIPMENT &
good radio. These radios usually came ACCESSORIES • SCANNERS
out of packet systems in which the ANLI • COMET • TYT • UNIDEN • YAESU
squelch has been left off with the audio
(201)-VHF-2067
runing at maximum around the clock.
114 Essex Street, Lodi, NJ 07644
This design technique works for radios Closed Sunday & Monday
that are always squelched and used
infrequently, but used in full-time ser-
vice, they may only last 10 years. /
-µÕ>ÀiÊ-
ÌÊÌ
option, nickel wire was welded to the
>}°V
cases and soldered to ground.
The Cracked Solder Joint
Mystery
Solder joints are our friends, but they
can be defective if they are “cold” joints
or if they are mechanically pulled apart.
Any part that is fixed/mounted on one
side of a PC board and has leads that
go through and are soldered on the
>}°V
other side are candidates for solder
<Ê

Elementary Equipment Needed
for These Analyses
Only the most basic equipment is need-
ed for these analyses, but it should
include: Multimeter, curve tracer, micro-
scope or a small magnifying glass, and
a small hacksaw.
$ANGER
• Some components are made of haz-
ardous materials.
• Don’t grind up any beryllium oxide
ÜÜÜ°iâ
Suggestion from thousands
of HAM’s and Cable Installers
around the world, led to a
complete redesign of the
EZ Hang. Custom Designed
for YOU, the user in mind.
Now safer and easier to use, you
will hit your mark every time, with
less chance of misfires or hitting the yoke.
OVER 13,000 SOLD AROUND THE WORLD!
x{äÓnÈä£ÇÈ
ÜÜÜ°iâ
fracture. (BeO), which is white-looking ceramic. ÎÓÊ*ÀViÃÃÊ>Ê
Ì°
Ài`iÀV
ÃLÕÀ}]Ê6
ÊÓÓ{äÈ

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 37

 4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL

Photo A. W4SAY enjoying the pleasures of homebrewed vintage vacuum tube equipment.

How stumbling across an old article in a long forgotten volume sparked

one ham’s ambition to engage in the growing popularity of the historic
and vintage aspects of amateur radio.

%XLOGLQJD&ODVVLF1RYLFH6WDWLRQ
RI
BY ERIC W. POLK,* W4SAY

ack in the mid-1950s, in the halcyon days of glowing ume, he likely understood the fact that these radiating pho-

B vacuum tubes and handcrafted point-to-point wiring,

annual editions of a short soft-cover book called How
to Become a Radio Amateur1 enticed youngsters and adults
alike with the magic of ham radio. It was within the well-
leafed-through pages of these volumes that many thou-
sands of ham radio operators of the era, including the pre-
sent writer, received an introduction to the science, and
romance, of how one could make photons leap into space
from a resonant wire.
By the time the beginner had finished reading the little vol-
* c/o CQ Magazine
tons (called radio waves) could be turned on and off in orga-
nized patterns, which meant that intelligence — words and
messages — could be sent “into the air” and received at great
distances. And by the time our beginner had actually mas-
tered the material in HTBARA, he would understand the
seeming magic of how radio waves, traveling in straight lines,
could actually hit and then bounce off the ionosphere far
above the earth, return to the planet’s surface and then
bounce up to the ionosphere again in a remarkable process
that enabled the novice radio operator to send signals
“around corners,” over the horizon, to other countries, other
continents. That was pretty heady stuff for a young person

38 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

of that era, most of whom had grandparents who grew up in
the horse and buggy days.
In addition to the romance and the magic made possible by
the application of the hard science and technology within its
pages, the “How to Become” series enticed the prospective
ham radio operator with basic project equipment which would
enable him or her to actually build a complete radio station,
with a basic receiver and a transmitter with which, under favor-
able conditions, he could send and receive signals almost any-
where in the world (and yes, it was nearly always a “he” in
those days. – ed.). What an enticement to join what was then,
as now, an extraordinary high-tech hobby!
An Exotic Aura
The radio equipment of the era had a definite aura of the
exotic, with the faint odor of ozone wafting up from the soft-
ly glowing vacuum tubes, the mirror-like sprayed metal “get-
ter” on the inside of the tube’s glass envelope reflecting a
clear funhouse mirror image of everything nearby. It was
an era when America dominated the world electronics
industry. Any conceivable electronic part one could possi-
bly need was domestically manufactured and readily avail-
able. And oh, what parts! There were elegant nickel-plated
variable capacitors with ball bearing races hand-assembled
to within an extraordinary degree of mechanical precision.
There were meticulously constructed vacuum tubes that
required enormous mechanical precision in fabricating and
spacing their various elements before sealing them in an
evacuated glass envelope. And the wiring: Everything from
the simplest beginner’s rig up to the most elaborate mil-
spec, legal-limit rock crusher was strictly hand-wired, point-
to-point connections, hand-made, hand-soldered, person-

Photo B. All homebrew projects of the classic vacuum tube Photo C. View of transmitter as components are mounted on
era invariably began with layout and drilling, usually in a the chassis.
selection of blank chassis and cabinets produced for the
purpose by a number of manufacturers.

Photo D. The complete “How to Become” station comprising (left to right) speaker, receiver, shared power supply, and trans-
mitter. The transmitter unit at the far right measures 12- x 7- x 6-inches deep. The speaker at far left is housed in a 6- x 6-
x 6-inch aluminum box. The receiver unit to its right measures 9- x 5- x 6-inches. All these easily fabricated aluminum hous-
ings, including the 10- x 5- x 3-inch power supply chassis, were produced in blank form by several manufacturers and
can still be found today with a diligent search. Failing that, any good sheet metal outfit can fabricate these enclosures.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 39

Photo E. A complete receiving system may be had by simply building the above three units, in which case the operator
gets to brag about his “mil-spec, ultra-conservative design” with a power supply that simply “loafs along.”

ally checked. Above all, the equipment

of the vacuum tube era radiated a mes-
sage of precision handcrafting.

Challenge: Build a 1950s

Station Today
With these historical vignettes and
many fond memories dancing in my
head, I endeavored to undertake a chal-
lenge to see if I could somehow dupli-
cate a classic vacuum tube novice sta-
tion as originally published so many
decades ago in HTBARA.
It was clear to me that if I was to suc-
cessfully duplicate that vintage vacuum
tube station, I would have to intention-
Photo F. In similar vein to the above, a complete transmitter results from build- ally ignore the primary law that most
ing these two units — and with an input of 30 watts would give a good account homebrewers follow when building a
of itself in 1956…or 2016 for that matter! The crystal is seen, plugged into its project: “There are a hundred ways to
porcelain socket, below the Shurite 0-200-ma cathode current meter. skin a cat.” That is, one of the joys of
homebrewing electronic equipment is
the knowledge that one is able to freely
substitute suitable parts (within limits) in
any given design, as well as change lay-
outs, panel design, shield layout etc.,
all, of course in accord with parts avail-
able, and good, even if alternative,
design principles. This is especially so
in vacuum tube equipment and certain-
ly in power supply construction.
By foregoing the above referenced
“law” of homebrewing, I figured I would
be able to create a true duplicate of the
historical “How to Become” station. The
problems started when reality reared its
ugly head and I realized that in the 21st
century, all the parts for such a project
are not exactly falling out of trees. In
Photo G. Internal view of the receiver shows the simple straightforward layout of fact, short of a junk box the size of a
a design laid down well over half a century ago. The two 6AQ5 tubes are respon- warehouse, one doubts that such a pro-
sible for all signal handling. While selectivity is nothing to write home about, the ject could even be possible today…
relative sensitivity of the regenerative detector can still amaze. except for the internet.

40 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

 Ah, yes…the internet…the magical
technology to give one the long reach to
patiently gather long-obsolete parts to
breathe life into a historic design.
Between the internet and my own not
inconsiderable junk box, along with a
few well-chosen hours combing through
the endless warrens of flea market heav-
en at Dayton, it was indeed possible to
create a true duplicate of this all vacu-
um tube station.

Circuits That Meet the Test

of Time
The design itself hearkens back to
1956. The receiver circuit, using the
well-known principles of regenerative
detection followed by a high-gain audio
stage, was touted as providing surpris-
ing sensitivity and it did not disappoint
in this regard. Good stability (on its 80-
meter design frequency) and startling
audio output were also claimed hall-
marks of the design. Of course, there is
just so much you can expect from such
a basic circuit. But, lo and behold, I
found that the receiver, with only two
tubes, could drive a small speaker to
room-filling volume! The unit also
spread the 80-meter band over the bet-
ter part of the now-classic National
German silver dial. The dial itself incor-
porates an internal Vernier reduction
mechanism that further facilitates pre- WiFi Antenna Switch 4x1
Free iphone control app
cise tuning.
www.snaptekk.com

The transmitter section of the station

is nothing more than a powered oscil-
lator that, with one tube, will produce a
30-watt CW signal on 80 meters. High
Control your antennas
accuracy of frequency and excellent from anywhere!
stability are the result of crystal control. Orders: www.wifiantennaswitch.com
The circuit design is actually remark-
ably similar to the transmitter unit of the
famous “Conar Twins” that appeared as
a commercial product a decade later in
the mid-’60s. But unlike the latter unit,
the “How to Become” design was far
less subject to sending out a chirping
CW signal because a robust power sup-
ply with choke input prevented pulling
of the oscillator frequency in the key-
down condition.
In the end, everything came together
as well as I could have ever hoped (see
photos). With regard to panel nomen-
clature, I wanted to do a neat profes-
sional job that might give my descen-
dants a motive to keep the equipment
in the family as a memory of Grandpa.
In accord with the best 1950s tech-
nique, I used the Letraset system of
press-on lettering. While no longer dis-
tributed in the U.S.A., the product is still
produced in England and, although
tedious to use (as one must press on

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 41

 and burnish one letter at a time), it pro-
duces panel nomenclature that is
absolutely indistinguishable in quality
from the best panel lithography or silk
screening of the era. Permanence is
achieved by a sprayed-on coat of
polyurethane.
On the Air
In terms of performance, this station
does not disappoint. True, from the
2EFLECTIONS ))) standpoint of the 2016 ham radio oper-
ator contemplating the purchase of the
by Walter Maxwell, W2DU
latest factory-built transceiver master-
Includes all the information piece…well, there is no comparison.
in Reflections I & II and
much, much more! This fully
But bear in mind that today’s superb
revised and updated, this modern transceiver has a 60-year tech-
424-page, third edition is
truly a must have!
nological edge on handcrafted, histori-
cally-oriented, vacuum tube homebrew
gear. Also, that modern versatile trans-
ceiver, with all its integrated circuits and
CPU, probably has no less than 500 mil-
lion active elements (and that is a con-
servative estimate) to carry out the
transmission and reception of radio
waves.
It was a learning experience for me to
see how one, and only one, active ele-
ment (in this case the 6DQ6A vacuum
tube) could be used to put out a solid
and stable — thanks to crystal control
— 30-watt CW signal on the 80-meter
ham band. And therein lies the differ-
ence between the handmade novice

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effective short HF vertical antennas. With
antenna restrictions becoming a problem, it Photo H. Internal view of the transmitter shows the 6DQ6A tube and associat-
could keep you on the air! ed components. Single-band capability kept construction simple for the novice
6 x 9 Paperback $10.00 operator.

$8 7ORLD 'UIDE
by Franz Langner, DJ9ZB

This 384-page DXer’s guide-

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Includes info on well over 300
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6 X 9 Paperback $42.95
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CQ The Radio
Amateur's Journal
Phone 516-681-2922 Photo I. The homebrew constructor of 1956 took pleasure in the high quality
FAX 516-681-2926 fittings and hardware of the era, including nickel-plated brass and glazed white
http://store.cq-amateur-radio.com porcelain.

42 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

station of the last century and the latest modern miracle of
station design from industry: Versatility. Want SSB? How
about no tune rapid band switching? Did you say memory
bank? Exotic digital modes? No problem! But within the
purview of its own narrow operating parameters, this vintage
Novice station gave me a valuable lesson in the old Zen prin-
ciple of “less is more.”
I found it quite remarkable that a receiver with a grand total
of two active elements (the two 6AQ5 vacuum tubes) could
hear so many signals and actually drive that little speaker to
room-filling volume. But, not being the most technically
insightful of amateurs, I was really surprised by the receiv-
er’s ability to demodulate single-sideband signals. In retro-
spect, I should have realized that the regenerative detector
Photo J. Ultimately, printed circuitry is a mass-production
technique. Here, the simple elegance of handmade point-to-
point wiring is seen in the plate circuit of the 6DQ6A trans-
mitting tube.
Photo K. Rear-fired output of the 1950s speaker is damp-
ened with glued-in batting.
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
could be carefully adjusted to provide the missing carrier on
SSB. The tuning on SSB is critical, and such a design would
never have sufficient stability on, say, 20 meters. But on the
80-meter band, even SSB can be received (in addition to the
CW signals for which the receiver was primarily designed).
One imagines that Major Armstrong (inventor of the regen-
erative detector in 1912) would be proud.
Notes:
1. How to Become a Radio Amateur, ARRL, West Hartford,
Ct., c 1956.
Photo L. With its heavy smoothing chokes and rugged iron
and copper power transformer, the power supply of 1956
was up to any task you could throw at it.
Photo M. The use of Letraset-type press-on lettering, still
available in England after all these years, will produce a neat
professional appearance — as long as one has the patience
to proceed, painstakingly, one letter at a time!
December 2016 • CQ • 43
4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL
The Maker Faires in New York, Silicon Valley and Rome, Italy, are massive
events, with huge crowds, lots of kids’ activities and some of the biggest
names in technology waiting to turn you into a customer. But is that what the
Maker movement is all about? W2VU compares his recent visit to the 2016
World Maker Faire in New York with a much smaller event across the
Hudson River in New Jersey.

+DYH%LJ7LPH
0DNHU)DLUHV/RVW
7KHLU:D\"
COMMENTARY BY RICH MOSESON,* W2VU

e’ve been attending the World Maker Faire each fall

W in New York City since its inception. Regular read-

ers will recall that over the past couple of years,
we’ve been growing a bit disenchanted with them. The idea
of the Maker Faire — theoretically — is to celebrate the Maker
movement, as well as the creativity and skill of those among
us who challenge the growing perception that only big com-
panies can develop and build innovative products, and who
fight back against the throw-away culture that pushes you to
replace rather than repair your “stuff” when it breaks. Hams,
of course, have lived by this philosophy for decades, which
is one reason that we find so much common ground (and
potential recruits) with the maker community.
Here’s the problem, though: As big tech companies saw
the growing popularity of the maker movement, they were
willing to pay big bucks to have a big presence at the big-
ger Maker Faires. As a result, those fairs have essentially
become corporate showcases, with individual makers and
local maker groups becoming marginalized. In addition, the
Photo A. The handmade signpost at the New York Maker
high costs associated with putting on and attending these
Faire gives one the impression of “just folks” putting on a big
show, but in reality, it has become big companies, with maker
* Editor, CQ groups and crafters stuck off in a corner of the outdoor
e-mail: <w2vu@cq-amateur-radio.com> display area.

Photo B. The Mini Maker Faire at the Newark Museum in New Jersey featured community groups that were actually
bringing technology and craftwork to the broader community.

44 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

Photo C. You never know who, or what, you’ll meet at the
New York Maker Faire. While there was only one ham radio-
specific booth, there were hams nearly everywhere you
turned (we’re not sure about this guy, though).
Photo D. As always, the Learn to Solder tent drew long lines.
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
Photo E. There was much less waiting, and more 1-on-1
instruction time for learning to solder with QRPMe’s Rex
Harper, W1REX, who joined the Hall of Science Amateur
Radio Club at the faire.
big shows have made them accessible
only to the upper middle class and
above.
On the other hand, smaller “Mini
Maker Faires” seem to be getting it right
in regard to showcasing individual cre-
ativity and making STEAM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, Art, and
Math) activities available to anyone with
the interest, regardless of economic or
social class.
I’ve recently had the opportunity to
attend one of each — the 2016 World
Maker Faire in New York City (Photo A)
and a Mini Maker Faire at the Newark
Museum in Newark, New Jersey (Photo
B). The contrasts are fascinating and
illustrate where I believe the mega
maker fairs have lost their way.
World Maker Faire
I attended this year’s New York Maker
Faire with CQ Advertising Director Jon
Kummer, WA2OJK. The crowds
seemed thinner than last year, and
while there was plenty of creativity on
display (Photo C), the most prominent
names one saw while walking around
December 2016 • CQ • 45
the fair were Google, Intel, and Barnes people were the complete focus of the “maker” apartment complex with stu-
& Noble. These are not necessarily Mini Maker Faire I attended last spring dios attached to each apartment, a
names one would immediately associ- at the Newark Museum in New Jersey’s “drone school” and a ham station set
ate with do-it-yourself (DIY) electronics largest city. I was there with my local up by the New Jersey Institute of
or crafts projects. Google once again maker group, Hack ‘N Craft NJ, and we Technology (NJIT) Amateur Radio
sponsored the “Learn to Solder” tent were one of about four area maker- Club, K2MFF (Photo K). No Google,
(Photo D), which was well-attended as spaces represented (Photo H). In addi- no Intel, no outrageous admission
always (and kitmeister Rex Harper, tion, there were glassblowers (Photo prices, and lots of families from across
W1REX, came down from Maine to I), blacksmiths (Photo J), a planned the community.
conduct a smaller soldering instruction
activity with the Hall of Science
Amateur Radio Club — Photos E and
F). Also, we were glad to see the return
of RadioShack, which drew long lines
with its “Build Your Own Drone” activi-
ty, as well as booths from parts suppli-
ers Digi-Key and Mouser. And once
again, there was a spot for budding
criminals to learn the art of lockpicking
(it was very popular!) (Photo G).
But also once again, maker groups
from the region were relegated to a
small corner of the huge grounds of the
New York Hall of Science, as were the
crafters. These people are the heart of
the maker movement and as usual,
they were shunted off to a far corner of
the fair.

Makin’ It in Newark
By contrast, maker groups and crafts-



 Photo F. The Hall of Science Amateur Radio Club had a demonstration station



 on the air and handed out quite a bit of information about ham radio (including
copies of CQ, of course!)



 
Then you should join
these distinguished
amateurs!
To Join or Renew visit:
 


 

   Photo G. The New York Maker Faire offered something for everyone…including
  budding burglars!

46 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

Photo H. Hack ‘N Craft NJ was one of about four maker
groups from New Jersey displaying at the Newark Mini
Maker Faire. The exhibit included W2VU’s “What? It Doesn’t
Work?” display on troubleshooting (foreground), musical
fruits (see sidebar) and a portable 3-D printer.
Photo J. Attendees at the Newark faire even got to learn about
blacksmithing!

Photo K. Three young hams from the NJ Institute of

Photo I. The art of glassblowing was one of many crafts on Technology Amateur Radio Club provided ham radio demos
display at the Mini Maker Faire in Newark. at the Newark Mini Maker Faire.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 47

 Óä£Ç
7À`Ê,>`Ê/6Ê>`L
4HE  7ORLD 2ADIO 46
(ANDBOOK is the world's most
comprehensive and up-to-date
guide to broadcasting.
Within the pages of the 71st
edition you'll find feature articles
of interest to radio amateurs
and DXers, reviews of the latest
equipment, frequency listings
galore, a reference section
with transmitter locations, and
much more!
"Þ
f{
Plus app°x
lic
shippingable
*Ài
"À`iÀÊÞÕÀÊV«ÞÊÌ`>Þt
We will ship immediately upon receipt from
the printer - approximately December 23rd.
+Ê
ÕV>ÌÃ]ÊV° out how we were completing the circuit without being in con-
17 W. John St., Hicksville, NY 11801 516-561-2922
HTTPSTORECQ
AMATEUR
RADIOCOM them along to the rest of the group. ± Thanks, W2VU
To me, this is what the Maker movement is about and what
Maker Faires should be about — not only bringing together
people who are already involved in different sorts of creative
endeavors but bringing the excitement of building and mak-
ing “stuff” to members of the community — kids, of course,
but really everyone — and making it accessible to the com-
munity without erecting huge financial barriers.
I don’t begrudge the folks at Make: for Making lots of
money at their mega-fairs, but it seems that bringing in big
bucks has become the primary goal of these events, while
it is the smaller community mini-faires that are really bring-
ing the Maker movement to everyone who stands to bene-
fit from it.
The Mystery of the Musical Fruit
Part of the Hack ‘N Craft NJ display at the Mini Maker Faire
was using fruit to make music (see photo). The idea was
that you would put one hand on the Altoids® tin lid (left) as
a ground, and then make musical notes by touching each
of the different fruits (plus one vegetable), each of which
was connected to a circuit board that told the computer to
play a certain note each time you completed the circuit.
Here’s the mystery: The fruits played whenever touched,
regardless of whether you were also touching the ground
lead (the music was louder when you did). The tablecloth
was plastic and none of the fruits were leaking any signifi-
cant amount of juice so the surface remained dry (the type
of fruit touched didn’t seem to matter). We couldn’t figure
tact with ground. Any ideas? Drop me an email and I’ll pass

zero bias (from page 8)

What is amazing here is that the process by which Rehman
was disqualified from seeking re-election proved his point
about excessive secrecy in the League’s decision-making
process. The members in his division not only were not
informed of the reasons for his disqualification, they weren’t
even told he’d been disqualified! Just a one-sentence
announcement less than a week into supposed voting that
the incumbent director’s opponent had been declared elect-
ed. By whom? Certainly not the members. How? Un-
specified. Why? None of your business.
When I tried to get more details, I was told it was “a per-
sonnel matter.” Wrong. A League director is not an employ-
ee; a League director is an elected representative of the
members. And if the board is taking the extreme step of tak-
ing away the members’ right to vote for their representative,
then the least it can do is provide an explanation and not hide
behind “a personnel matter.”
Regardless of what Rehman may or may not have done in
the current situation, he is on target that the League oper-
ates with far too much secrecy. It is the only membership
organization we know of that routinely prohibits members
from observing board meetings, and now it has even taken
away the members’ right to vote in its most populous divi-
sion. You might call it a denial of service. The members need
to demand change now.
On a more pleasant note, all the best to all of you from all
of us for a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, solstice cel-
ebration or whatever other holiday you may observe as we
seek to add light to our short winter days.
± 73, Rich, W2VU

48 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL

math’s notes
BY IRWIN MATH,* WA2NDM
ÃÌ>
} >
t seems that every time the end of another year )N THE PAST AMATEUR RADIO NOT ONLY
I comes around I tend to get nostalgic. It is not that
I don’t look forward to the future, it’s just that the
past I grew up in has a certain warm feeling for me
SERVED AS A WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY OF
hRAG CHEWERSv WHERE YOU COULD TALK TO
ANY ONE FROM A POOR LABORER TO A KING
and I like to remember just how far we have come,
so far. When I became aware of electronics and
entered into the so-called “modern world,” the vac-
uum tube was gradually being replaced by the tran-
sistor. The old 6SN7s and12AX7s were being
replaced by CK-722s, 2N109s and the like. No more
were filament transformers needed (nor, for that
matter, high-voltage power supplies and 5U4s). The
old aluminum and steel chassis with a multitude of
tube sockets was giving way to the “plastic” circuit
board and even so-called “printed circuits” were just
beginning to make their appearance. Soon portions
of entire discrete component circuits were being
replaced by small circuit block functions in the form
of “integrated circuits.” Hand-wiring became obso-
lete and machines started to build everything.
Where would it end?
Well it didn’t. The number 6 dry cell became a
tiny coin type mercury battery; the cathode-ray tube
with its 10 to 50-kilovolt power supply became a
low-voltage tiny flat-panel display (in color yet!),
and even the telephone lost its copper wire “land
line” connection and became wireless. A whole
new family of nearly-microscopic surface-mount
components made their appearance, as did tiny
versions of familiar older components that required
just a fraction of the power their older relatives
needed (and a magnifying glass to see them). Even
amateur radio changed from separate transmitters
and receivers (with mechanical antenna change-
over relays) to fully integrated transceivers and
then to software-defined devices that could be con-
figured to any of multiple versions by the simple
touch of a few buttons. The computer (we called
them adding machines then) underwent an incred-
ible metamorphosis into devices that did far more
than simple computing. In fact, computing actual-
ly became the least of their functions. Soon, tiny
so-called microprocessors containing hundreds of
thousands of solid-state components in tiny fin-
gernail-sized packages came on the scene and
seemed to almost think for themselves. All of this
in less than a half a century!
Now we are well into the 21st century and the
1900s are antique. Our years are called “20 some-
thing” and I am sure plenty of similar changes will
occur as time moves on. Will we be better for it? I
am not sure. When I had just started to drive a car
and had to call home, I needed to stop at a phone
booth (there was one on almost every corner then),
*c/o CQ magazine
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
ON EQUAL FOOTING BUT ALSO AS A TESTING
GROUND FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT THE
hEXPERTSv SAID WOULDNT WORK
put a quarter or two in a slot (originally it was a
dime) and dial a number. Today we don’t even talk
but text to each other, except, of course, for ama-
teur radio. At least this portion of the hobby still
remains and for me is much more enjoyable — but
I am “old fashioned,” as my granddaughter likes to
tell me. I have a worldwide “facebook” with friends
in hundreds of countries and can “twitter” from my
HT using my voice, not a keyboard, the way it used
to be. I don’t believe that you can replace personal
human contact with a printed message on a tiny cell
phone screen but the majority of the youngsters in
our society are certainly trying to.
In the past, amateur radio not only served as a
worldwide community of “rag chewers” where you
could talk to any one from a poor laborer to a king
on equal footing, but also as a testing ground for
new technologies that the “experts” said wouldn’t
work. Remember the decision that, since the wave-
lengths below 200 meters were worthless, the gov-
ernment would “give them to the hams?” Instead
of using a 1,000-watt spark transmitter to cover a
distance of a few tens of miles at 1.4 megacycles
(no typo), we found that a few watts could allow us
to communicate worldwide at 14 megahertz on 20
meters and with slow-scan video to boot.
As I have said many times, I truly believe that
the role of the amateur is still not over nor will it
ever really be. It is true that today’s technology
requires much more sophisticated equipment,
knowledge and ideas to work with but if you con-
sider what was available “back then,” it is still the
same ball game. The amateur experimenters of
the 1930s and ’40s did not have GHz oscillo-
scopes or digital programmable signal genera-
tors, but they did have a desire to learn and try
many of the so-called “useless” theories and the
results, to a great degree, led us to where we are
today. Let’s hope that continues.
With the end of another year I want to wish all of
my readers the very best for a happy and healthy
new year. In these troubled times, I believe that
amateur radio can go a long way toward helping
promote understanding between peoples with
widely varying lifestyles but with common hopes of
peace and prosperity.
– 73, Irwin, WA2NDM
December 2016 • CQ • 49
 Photo A. Navajo Code Talker Statue in Window Rock, Arizona.

One of the best-kept secrets of World War II was the unbreakable code
developed and used by Native Americans in the U.S. Marine Corps to
transmit information over the radio in the heat of battle. The code was based
on tribal languages that were only spoken, not written, and that were
unknown outside the tribal communities. These “code talkers” were critical
to the success of many battles.

1&&HOHEUDWLQJWKH1DYDMR
&RGH7DONHUV
BY BOB DAVIES,* K7BHM

t was in 1968 that President Lyndon B. Johnson declas- Japan’s surrender in 1945 — as the annual Code Talkers

I sified the Navajo Code used in World War II. Prior to that
time, all Code Talkers were sworn to secrecy. In July 2001,
President George W. Bush presented Congressional Gold
Medals to the original 29 Marine Code Talkers, or their direct
descendants, and designated August 14th — the date of
* <k7bhm@cox.net>
# <n7hgster@gmail.com>
Day of Recognition.
Native Americans first used their tribal languages for secret
communications during World War I, according to the
Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American
Indian. They were again recruited by both the U.S. Army and
the Marine Corps during World War II. The Marines recruit-
ed a group of 29 Navajos in 1942 to develop a code based
on their language, which was then taught to other Native

50 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site


Photo B. N7C in Window Rock, Arizona. Left-to-right: Ray Sara, W7USA; author
Bob Davies, K7BHM; and organizer Herb Goodluck, N7HG.
American “Code Talkers,” who used it
extensively for radio communications in
the Pacific theater. Their full-time job,
according to Herbert Goodluck, N7HG,
whose father, John V. Goodluck, was a
Marine Code Talker, was to communi-
cate in their native language. A couple
of code talkers were assigned on an
island, he said, with one or two more on
a battleship, to direct artillery onto the
island and report on supplies needed.
The code was never broken and was
credited with helping bring about victo-
ry in several battles and with saving
thousands of lives.
Commemorative Special Event
Station
To continue their legacy, N7HG in 2004
established an annual special event
References:
• Aaseng, Nathan, Navajo Code Talkers — America’s Secret Weapon in WWII,
Walker & Co., 1992
• “Native Words, Native Warriors,” Smithsonian Institution National Museum
of the American Indian <http://www.nmai.si.edu/education/codetalkers/html/
chapter4.html>
• Tohe, Laura, Code Talker Stories, Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2012
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
station — N7C — which is initiated from
the Navajo Code Talkers Memorial
Park in Window Rock, Arizona (Photo
A). Herb has organized the operation
every year since, inviting additional
operators to take part as well. (See
sidebar, “Herb’s Ham Story.”)
On Sunday, August 14, 2016, with
the assistance of Ray Sara, W7USA;
Bob Davies, K7BHM; Steve Hickman,
KC5USN; John Ellis, W5PDW; and of
course, Herb, N7HG, the special
event station made over 1,000 QSOs
to commemorate the Code Talker Day
(Photo B). Many of the stations we
worked thanked us for honoring the
Marines and the Code Talkers. A few
commented about having relatives
who served in the Marines during
WWII, and who knew of the Code
Talkers.
Herb’s Ham Story
BY HERBERT GOODLUCK,# N7HG
My name is Herbert Goodluck,
N7HG, a descendant of a Navajo Code
Talker, my father, John V. Goodluck,
who passed on back in 2001. Cur-
rently I live on the Navajo Indian
Reservation, in a little community
called Lukachukai, Arizona.
I became interested in ham radio
back in the 1970s, but really did not
know where to take a test. The near-
est RadioShack store was 100 miles
away in Gallup, New Mexico, and they
only had ham radio study books. I was
licensed in June 1996, after my broth-
er told me about a local high school
teacher who had set up a test session
for students. I jumped on it and stud-
ied for two weeks straight, in the morn-
ing and evening. I passed the Novice
and Technician Class exams on the
same day.
Each year since August 2004, I’ve
been requesting the special callsign
of N7C to operate a station in honor
of the Navajo Code Talkers. I enjoy
the special event each year, and invite
different operators from the sur-
rounding area and from other parts of
the U.S. On August 14th of each year,
we hold the event in Window Rock,
Arizona’s, Navajo Veterans Memorial
Park. The rest of the days, we trans-
mit from my home QTH in Lukachukai.
Among our contacts was Native
American radio operator Richard
MacPhee, N1CW, who said he is a full-
blood Panawahpskek of the Penobscot
Nation. It was so great to hear a Native
American on the air, but I could not
understand his native language. Also
in the log is Tas Foley, K8TAS, who is
part Cherokee. A few of the stations we
worked commented that they’ve had
contact with or have a book signed by
the Navajo Code Talkers. Others com-
mented on a relative who served in the
Marine Corps back in WWII. At times,
operators have asked me to talk in the
Navajo language, such as how to say
hello and goodbye. I speak and under-
stand Navajo language fluently;
English is my second language.
If readers want to learn more, I’d
recommend a good book, Code
Talker Stories, written by Laura Tohe,
a University of Arizona professor
who is also a descendant of a Navajo
Code Talker.
December 2016 • CQ • 51
the listening post
BY GERRY DEXTER*

ÕÃÌÀ>>½ÃÊ ÀÌiÀÊ/iÀÀÌÀÞ
-ÀÌÜ>ÛiÊ-iÀÛVi½ÃÊi>Ì
Ài>ÌÞÊ
Ý>}}iÀ>Ìi`
his is awful news,” noted Ralph Perry. (I
“T could not have said it better.) The
Australian Broadcasting Commission
(ABC) is reported to have shut down its entire
Northern Territory shortwave service, which
includes the stations at Alice Springs, Katherine,
and Tennant Creek operating on 2325, 2485, 4835,
and 4910. Although it never provided speaker-rat-
tling signals, Alice Springs on 4835 was sometimes
moderately well-heard during our early morning
hours. Even so, this is another major loss for short-
wave. The transmission provider, Broadcast
Australia, says budget cuts are the culprit ... Or, is
all of this just so much balderdash?
You need to place a very large question mark
after the above paragraph. Because later reports
say there is nothing to this scary news — that ABC
is doing just fine, thank you, and that all three sta-
tions are still on the air. Maybe we should all learn
to just “cool it” until all the facts are in and have
been checked out.
Let’s get to some shortwave-lets while we bite
our nails over the ABC thing.
~ During the Vietnam War, the GIs called her
“Hanoi Hannah” on Vietnamese radio. Her real
name was Trinh Thi Ngo, and she passed away in
late September in Hanoi at the age of 87.
*c/o CQ magazine
52 • CQ • December 2016
~ Amateur radio in Turkey did not shut down after
all, following the attempted coup there. Nor were
any of the AM, FM, or SW broadcast outlets closed,
as was reported elsewhere.
~ Reach Beyond Australia has announced the
addition of a third, 100-kilowatt transmitter that’s
now in operation from Kununurra. This HCJB
Global operation certainly deserves full congratu-
lations for forging ahead, despite the general pall
of negativity which hangs over shortwave broad-
casting these days.
~ Radio Free Asia reports the release of the 20th
version of its QSL card design — this one was
issued to mark RFA’s 20th Anniversary.
~ There are indications that the very seldom-
heard Radio Kahuzi from Bukavu, Democratic
Republic of Congo, is teasing us with a signal
around 1900 UTC to just past 2000 UTC on 6210.
Your reception point would have to be in the far
eastern U.S., in mid-winter, to even have a chance
at this one.
~ What in the world is ex-religious broadcaster
WHRI (then Le Sea Broadcasting) doing relaying
our former enemy’s Voice of Vietnam? VOV is now
using WHRI daily at 0000 UTC and 0230 UTC on
7315. Just like politics, shortwave broadcasters
sometimes make for some strange bedfellows. I
guess it all depends on who sits behind the CEO’s
desk.
~ Regular log reporter Rich Parker checked in to
say he’s finally gotten approval for Army MARS, so
KB2DMD in now qualified as an “actual military
communications facility.” Congratulations, OM!
Leading Logs:
Remember, your shortwave broadcast station logs
are always welcome. But please be sure to double
or triple space between the items, list each logging
according to the station’s home country and
include your last name and state abbreviation after
each. Also needed are spare QSLs, station sched-
ules, brochures, pennants, station photos, and any-
thing else you think would be of interest. You ama-
teur radio operators who are also SWLs are also
most welcome to contribute.
D’Angelo QSL’d FG Radio through WMRI’s relay
on 11580, though the Miami folks ignored the most
needed information.
Visit Our Web Site
 Here are this month’s logs. All times are in UTC. If no lan-
guage is mentioned English is assumed. Once you’ve
checked the printed logs, you’ll find more online at <http://
cqpluslisteningpost.blogspot.com>.

ALBANIA—Radio Tirana, 7285-Cerrik at 2045 with 2

women on TV on the U.S. (Cooper, PA)

WRMI also confirmed D’Angelo’s reception of The Italian

Broadcasting Corp. Also not bothering to note the IBC
broadcast.

Unique Radio, the newish Australian broadcaster, relayed

by WINB, came through for Rich D’Angelo.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 53

 ARMENIA—SM Radio International,
11845 at 1905 with a one-day broad-
cast featuring oldie pops; According to
Facebook it was the Rock ‘n Roll
Rewind program with Ron Quinn. Was
in English except for Greek announce-
ments at 1915 UTC and 1931 UTC. IDs
and invites to write to <info@short-
wavecommunity.com>. (Sellers, BC)
BANGLADESH—Bangladesh Betar,
13580 at 1810 ending English news and
intro of the Voice of Islam program.
(Valko, PA)
BAHRAIN—Radio Bahrain, 9745 in
Arabic at 1218 with dance music.
(Valko, PA) (A testosterone log! –gld)
BOLIVIA—Radio Mosoj Chaski, Co-
chabamba, 3310 at 0915 in Spanish/-
Quecha with a woman singer and
announcer. Cooper, PA)

2014 and 2015

Back issues of CQ Amateur Radio A WRMI QSL showing placement of antennas at its transmitter site. (Courtesy of
are now available on disk in PDF Rich D’Angelo)
format!
The years 2014 and 2015 are now
available in easy-to-access PDF
format for you to read and refer
to again and again . . . at a
fraction of their original cost!
Remember 2015 was our 70th
Anniversary Year!

#1  Order No. CQ2014 

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Hicksville, NY 11801
Phone 516-681-2922 Here is a picture of the transmitter building of VL8K in Katherine, Australia. This
FAX 516-681-2926 along with VL8A in Alice Springs are still on the air despite “news” to the contrary.
http://store.cq-amateur-radio.com

54 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

 Emisora Pio Doce, Siglo Veinte at 5952.5 in Spanish with announced as such. Various songs and gave email as <con-
multiple flutes, male DJ at 0100. (Cooper, PA) ditiontest@gmail.com>. (Cooper, PA).
Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, 6135 in SS at 0108 with
lively pops, male and female singers, later ID. LSB needed QSL Quests
due to QRM. (Cooper, PA) Rich D’Angelo got replies from WRMI relaying FG Radio,
EQUATORIAL GUINEA—Radio Nacional, Bata, 5005 at though the card doesn’t indicate that. The same problem was
0525 with African choral pops. Decent signal, but muffled also evident on WRMI’s reply for a report on the Italian
audio and down low. (Perry, IL) Broadcasting Corp. He fared a little better with Unique Radio
ETHIOPIA—Radio Fana, Addis Ababa, 6110 at 0330 in (based in Australia) via WINB.
heavily-accented English. (Perry, IL) 0341 with two women
in Amharic, HOA vocals, man with nice ID, followed by news Back in the Day
at 0400. (D’Angelo, PA) Voice of the UAE, Abu Dhabi, 9600 in Arabic at 2200 on
PALU—T8WH, 9930-Medorn in Mandarin at 1356 ending February 2, 1991 using 500 kilowatts.
program, instrumental music, program promos in French and
off. (Taylor, WI) Just Sayin’
PAPUA NEW GUINEA—NBC Bougainville (t) 3325 at 1002 There are way too many people who couldn’t find South
in Tok Pisin with soft-voiced man, then woman, then man. America on a world map but people who watch TV dramas
(Cooper, PA) may be learning some geography. I’ve heard other ex-Soviet
PERU—Radio Tarma, Tarma, 4774.9 at 0318 in Spanish, Republics, among others, not to mention dozens of little
periods of music through CODAR swishes. (Taylor, WI) 1020 known cities and towns mentioned during mystery/adventure
with announcer, light music in background, then song by a dramas. Now we just need to supply more atlases.
woman. (Cooper, PA)
Radio Tawantinsuyo, Cusco, 6174 at 1011 with OA campo Thanks
music, man with TC and ID at 1020. (Valko, PA) Man hugs, high fives and backslaps to the following good
VIETNAM—Voice of Vietnam 9635-Son Tay (p) at 1238 in guys who checked in this month: Rich D’Angelo, Wyomissing,
Vietnamese, man/woman announcers alternating with many PA; Mark Taylor, Madison and Lake Farm Park near Madison,
mentions of Vietnam. (Taylor, Lake Farm Park, WI) WI; William Hassig, Mt. Peasant, IL; Ralph Perry, Wheaton,
ZANZIBAR—ZBC Radio, 11735 at 1933 with AA songs. IL; Rich Parker, KB2DMD, Pennsburg, PA; Bob Brossell,
(Sellers, BC) 2040 in Swahili. (Cooper, PA) Pewaukee, WI; Fotios Padazopulos, Athens, Greece; Chris
More logs at: <http://cqpluslisteningpost.blogspot.com>. Lobdell, Tewksbury, MA; John C. Cooper, Lebanon, PA
(Welcome!); Dave Valko, Dunlow, PA; and Chuck Ripple,
Who Goes There? K8HU, Chesapeake, VA.
Until next month — Keep on keepin’ on!
~ 5150 unknown pirate at 1932 UTC with a variety of songs,
some including crowd noises. On recheck next day at 0045
UTC had a menagerie of sounds including time station beeps,
weather reports, talk, RTTY, and music. (Cooper, PA) 0251
with late 60s/early 70s things. (Hassig, IL) 5150 A few days
“Getting Started”
later at 1200 UTC had songs at half speed, gaps of dead air;
HF Underground indicates this one repeats RFW programs.
Recheck at 1857 gave an ID as “You are listening to Radio
DVD Paks
Doomsday, pirate shortwave” (Cooper, PA)
~ 6210 unid pirate with non-stop rock at 2325 UTC. Relayed CQ Ham Radio Welcome Pak
1 DVD contains 3 programs:
Radio Free Whatever at 2344 UTC, so might have been Ham Radio Horizons
Newport Pirate Radio. (Lobdell, MA) Getting Started in Ham Radio
~ 6350 at 1147 UTC with woman in possible East Asian Getting Started in VHF
language. Seemed a professionally produced program with Order # HAMDVD $24.95 $16 $16
a professional reader. (Taylor, Lake Farm Park, WI) -
 t
~ 9410 at 1000 UTC with news in Greek, couldn’t catch it CQ HF Specialty Pak
1 DVD contains 2 programs:
signing on. Broadcast lasted until 1015 UTC abrupt end with- Getting Started in DXing
out ID. Heard it four times during the first two weeks in Getting Started in Contesting
September but not since. (Padazopulos, Greece) Order # HFDVD $24.95 $16
~ 6780 at 0315 UTC playing “Knights in White Satin,”
“Goddamn the Pusher,” others without announcements. At CQ VHF Specialty Pak
other times had contemporary dance things. (Taylor, WI) 1 DVD contains 3 programs:
Getting Started in Satellites CQ DVD 3 Pak -
~ 6935 at 0151 UTC with music from Herbie Mann. (Taylor, one of each of the
Getting Started in VHF
WI) Getting Started in Packet 3 DVDs above
~ 6935.2 at 0251 UTC with rock, chaotic talk, possible ID, Order # VHFDVD $24.95 $16 Order # 3DVD $65.95 $42
various talks, and weird music that was sped up with an echo
effect and off at 0316 UTC. (Taylor, WI)
Shipping & Handling: U.S. & Possessions-add $7 for the first item,
~ 6210 at 0033 UTC relaying Radio Free Whatever from a $3.50 for the second and $2 for each additional item.
few days back, later piano, which was not the RFW program. FREE shipping on orders over $100 to one U.S. address.
(Taylor, WI) All Other Countries-$25 for 1st item, $10 for 2nd and $5 for each additional.
~ 6925u at 0023 UTC. One electronic piece and flute, then
off. (Taylor, WI) CQ Communications, Inc.,
~ 6955u at 0219 with vague talk over music. (Taylor, WI)
~ 15360 Unidentified test transmission at 1923 UTC and http://store.cq-amateur-radio.com

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 55

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 BY TOM SMERK,* AA6TS
cq world wide >viÃÌÃÊ>`ÊÕÀÀ
V>iÃÊo
T
his month, we look at the UK National
Hamfest, Hurricane Matthew in the Carib-
bean, flooding in Indonesia, and more ham
radio news from around the world.
UK National Hamfest
UK’s largest radio rally, the National Hamfest, was
held from September 30 through October 1 at the
Newark and Nottinghamshire Showground. Hams
were there from around the UK, Europe, and the
Far East. The event was sponsored by the Radio
Society of Great Britain (RSGB) in association with
the Lincoln Short Wave Club and featured com-
mercial exhibits (“trade stands”), a “Bring & Buy,”
tailgating area, flea market, special interest
groups, and an RSGB bookstall. There were also
representatives from the RSGB on hand to answer
questions, and a Morse code proficiency test was
available.
The Camb-Hams, part of the Cambridgeshire
Repeater Group, operated their GB16NH special
event station from their new “Flossie Mk2” com-
munications vehicle (see photos), which replaced
their aging original vehicle. The new van made its
debut at the RSGB’s VHF National Field Day in
July of this year.
[RSGB and Camb-Hams]
*17986 Highway 94, Dulzura, CA 91917
e-mail: <aa6ts@cq-amateur-radio.com>
Flossie MK2 gets readied for VHF contacts at its debut this past July. (Photos courtesy Camb-Hams)
58 • CQ • December 2016
Hams Activated as Hurricane Matthew
Hammers the Caribbean
Originating as a tropical wave off the African coast,
what became Hurricane Matthew intensified in late
September in the eastern Caribbean, reaching
Category 5 strength with 160 mph winds as it head-
ed for Haiti, where it caused massive destruction.
The storm reached eastern Cuba on Oct. 4 as a
Category 4, and reached the Bahamas on October
5-6 as a Category 3-4 hurricane.
The IARU reported that the American Hurricane
Watch Net was operating 14.325 MHz and 7.268
MHz (depending on propagation) during the storm.
In addition, Cuba’s National Emergency Net was
activated on 7110 primary and 7120 secondary
(daytime) and 3740 primary and 3720 secondary
(nighttime).
Cuba’s main emergency station was operating
as CO9DCN, located at the Cuban National Civil
Defense Headquarters in Havana, and was super-
vised by Cuban Federacion of Radio Amateurs
(FRC) National Emergency Coordinator Dr. Carlos
Alberto Santamaria Gonzalez, CO2JC.
U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) station
WX4NHC was activated, as well as the VoIP
Hurricane Net on the WX-Talk Conference, Node
#7203 on Echolink and IRLP Reflector 9219 with
IRLP Reflector 9553 as backup. This net was also
analyzing social media input such as weather and
damage reports from the impacted areas.
Visit Our Web Site
Residents were urged to submit this information from their
local areas.
The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network
(SATERN) activated to at least a DELTA II (extended mon-
itoring) status and monitored 14.265 MHz while propagation
lasted. SATERN operators also monitored the HWN and the
Maritime Mobile Service Net (MMSN) on 14.300 MHz.
At the time this article was submitted for publication,
Hurricane Matthew had devastated the Caribbean and was
heading up the eastern U.S. coast, where it caused major
damage, particularly in South and North Carolina. At least
271 deaths have been reported from Haiti, with four deaths
reported from the Dominican Republic and St. Vincent and
the Grenadines. Other sources put the total number as high
as 877, so with new casualties still being discovered, it is too
early to state an exact casualty figure. At this time, no loss
of life has been reported from Cuba.
[Various news sources]
Hams Provide Communications Help in
Indonesian Floods
A period of heavy rain that began during the evening of
September 20, 2016 triggered landslides and floods in two
regions of West Java, Indonesia. Organisasi Amatir Radio
Indonesia (ORARI), the country’s national amateur radio
organization, set up an emergency station at a base camp
and operated a HF net on 7.110 MHz. A VHF repeater was
used for operation and coordination supporting the govern-
ment and search and rescue teams.
Hams also assisted in the search for 22 people who were
still missing. It was reported that two houses were buried by
landslides and a mosque was destroyed. Thousands of
homes were affected, with many of them underwater. About
three dozen people were injured and villages in the path of
floodwaters were evacuated.
[IARU]
Camb-hams operate from within their new Flossie MK2
communications truck.
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
Canadian Simulated Emergency Test
Canada’s nationwide Simulated Emergency Test (SET) was
held on October 8, allowing hams to shake out their equip-
ment and test their operating skills. The SET weekend includ-
ed an opportunity to interact with NTS (National Traffic
System) nets.
In Canada, SETs are administered by the Radio Amateurs
of Canada (RAC). RAC field organization leaders at the sec-
tion and local levels, along with other public service and emer-
gency communications volunteers, worked with served
agencies to develop simulated emergency scenarios.
One of the goals was to strengthen the relationship between
ARES (the Amateur Radio Emergency Service) and served
municipalities at the local EC (Emergency Coordinator) level.
Another goal was to get maximum participation from ARES
members and to sign up new members from the enthusias-
tic hams who showed interest in the activities.
[Radio Amateurs of Canada]
Search for Aircraft Missing Since 1981
When VH-MDX, a Cessna 210, went missing in the
Barrington Tops area of New South Wales, Australia, on a
stormy night in August 1981, Wireless Institute Civil
Emergency Network (WICEN) NSW members were involved
in the search, providing an HF link. The plane was never
found and the search for this aircraft has continued each year
for the past 35 years in the form of an annual multi-agency
December 2016 • CQ • 59
 Collins Radio
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Rodrigo, EA7JX, from EAntenna bought some of his antennas to the UK National
Hamfest for the Camb-Hams to use, and operated a little as well.
exercise designed to practice and
Collins KWM-2 improve search and rescue techniques.
This year’s exercise was held from
Two disc set, 236 minutes total September 16-18.
Order No. C-KWM $89.95 Each year, evidence is reviewed in an
attempt to narrow down the search
area, and new technology, such as
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging —
similar to radar) sweeps, is used to
assist the search. This year, 12 WICEN
NSW members provided safety and
management communications for the
50 people who were involved in the
Collins 75S-3/32S-3 exercise.
Two disc set, 226 minutes total WICEN used multiple VHF repeaters
Order No. C-75S $89.95 as well as manual relay points. Some
teams carried HF equipment. The par-
ticipants look forward to doing the same
thing next year!
[Southgate Amateur Radio News]
Australia Reviewing RF
Spectrum Plan
In September, the Australian Commu-
nications and Media Authority (ACMA)
Collins 30L-1 announced on its website that it had
Single Disc 61 minutes total opened consultation on its proposed
update of the Australian Radiofre-
Order No. C-30L $39.95 quency Spectrum Plan, and has issued
a discussion paper and related docu-
Shipping & Handling: US & Possessions-add $7 for the ments describing possible changes.
first item, $3.50 for the second and $2 for each additional Submissions were due before October
item. Foreign-calculated by order weight and destination 24, 2016.
and added to your credit card charge.
Following each World Radiocommu-
nication Conference (usually held every
CQ Communications, Inc. three to four years) the International
17 W. John Street, Hicksville, NY 11801 Telecommunication Union updates its
international Table of Frequency Allo-
www.cq-amateur-radio.com cations. It is up to each member coun-
800-853-9797 try to then integrate the changes into its
FAX us at 516 681-2926 own regulations. Following WRC-15
60 • CQ • December 2016
held in November of last year in Geneva,
the ACMA proposed changes to its
Spectrum Plan to reflect the agreed-
upon international arrangements.
Any individual or group with an inter-
est in RF spectrum allocations and use
was invited to make a submission. As
the main representative body for the
Australian radio amateur community,
the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA)
was preparing a submission.
The ACMA acknowledges that all of
the changes may not occur immediate-
ly. The updated Australian Radiofre-
quency Spectrum Plan is expected to be
phased in beginning on January 1, 2017.
The ACMA is also working on new leg-
islation to create a simpler and more
flexible licensing system.
[WIA and ACMA]
ARISS Presents
Accomplishments and
Updates Equipment
Susan Buckle, the UK Space Agency’s
Astronaut Flight Education Program
Support Manager, along with Ciaran
Morgan, MØXTD, gave a presentation
on October 8th at the Radio Society of
Great Britain’s (RSGB) convention. The
presentation discussed ARISS (Ama-
teur Radio on the International Space
Station) school contacts with astronaut
Tim Peake, opearting GB1SS, during his
Principia mission, and how exchanges
between the participating school chil-
dren and the astronaut sparked interest
in amateur radio in a meaningful way and
have inspired young people to study sci-
ence and technology.
Visit Our Web Site
 Te Elecraf K-Line
Now Featuring the K3S Transceiver

K3S P3 Panadapter KPA500

Superhet/SDR Architecture
Ultra Low-Noise RX/TX
The Elecraft K3 set the standard for compact,
high-performance transceivers, proving to be ideal for
DXpeditions, multi-transmitter contesting, Field Day,
and home stations alike. With the 2nd-generation K3S,
we’ve raised the bar once again, upgrading nearly
every subsystem. Improvements include:
• Ultra low-noise synthesizer
• USB port with integrated control and audio
• Second preamp for 12-6 m weak-signal work
• 5/10/15 dB attenuator settings
• ATU option with true bypass relay
• Accurate, high-speed CW even in SPLIT mode
• 100-500 kHz coverage
• Enhanced look and feel; soft-touch VFO knob
Now with TX Signal Monitoring
Out-Performs Built-In Band Scopes
The P3 panadapter’s real-time spectral and waterfall
displays add a visual dimension to DXing, revealing
weak signals you might otherwise miss. The P3 is fully
integrated with the transceiver, allowing instant QSY
to any signal. Optional TX metering adds power/SWR
graphs and signal envelope monitoring.
NEW! SP3 Matching Speaker
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For complete features and specifcations visit elecraft.com • 831-763-4211
Works with Any Transceiver
Silent, Ultra-Fast T/R Switching
The KPA500 amp features instant RF-based band
switching, plus remote band selection that tracks
the band of the K3S or K3. It has bright alphanumeric
status display and LED bar graphs, and a rugged,
internal linear supply. The compact KAT500 ATU (not
shown) uses a fast, accurate tuning algorithm. Saved
matching network settings can be recalled
automatically as you tune the transceiver’s VFO,
so you’ll be ready wherever DX appears.

The International Space Station is in the final stages of get-
ting better equipment to support future ARISS contacts. The
ARISS program is preparing a JVC Kenwood D710 radio,
which will provide higher power and more capability. Also,
a multi-voltage power supply is being developed that will
support not only the D710, but will also have capabilities for
the future.
It will cost almost $200,000 to test and certify the gear for
NASA’s and the other space agencies’ standards, so a
fundraising effort is under way. The AMSAT.ORG website
has a “donate” button, and anyone who donates $100 or more
gets a specially-developed ARISS Challenge Coin.
Corporate donors should contact Frank Bauer directly at
<ka3hdo@verizon.net>.
[Amateur Radio Newsline and ARISS]
CEPT Regulations Eased for Visiting Hams in
Europe
Acting on a recommendation from the International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU) Region 1, a Working Group of Frequency
Management (WGFM) of the European Conference of Postal
and Telecommunications Administration (CEPT) has adopt-
ed a measure making it easier for amateur radio operators
who are licensed outside Europe to operate there on a tem-
porary basis.
Amateurs from countries within CEPT have already had
the privilege of short-term, cross-border operation in 42
member countries that have implemented CEPT recom-
mendation T/R 61-01. This privilege has also been extend-
ed to visiting amateurs from certain non-CEPT nations, but
so far only Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Peru,
South Africa, the United States, and portions of The
Netherlands have implemented T/R 61-01. Now, other coun-
tries will also gain this convenience.
A “Statement of Conformity” regarding licenses will allow
nations wishing to be part of the CEPT licensing framework to
identify which class of its amateur license is equivalent to the
CEPT license and vice-versa. This replaces the current pro-
cedure, which involves having CEPT’s European Communi-
cations Office examine the other nation’s license requirements,
determining the equivalence itself. The conformity procedure
is also being considered for the CEPT Novice license.
The WGFM also amended the syllabus for the Harmonized
Amateur Radio Examination Certificate (HAREC — not a
license, but a sort of pass slip used mainly in CEPT countries)
to include references to responsible conduct on the air and to
operating practices. This should help to alleviate increasing
problems with deliberate and unintentional interference.
WGFM was scheduled to further address these issues at
its meeting in Bordeaux, France in October.
[IARU Region 1]
In Closing
I really enjoy putting this column together each month
because it gives me an opportunity to correspond with hams
all over the globe. But there are still many countries I haven’t
heard from. The digital edition of CQ magazine is available
in all countries, so the next time you attend an international
ham radio event and meet a ham from a different country,
tell them about our magazine so they can check it out online!
Please contact <aa6ts@cq-amateur-radio.com> when you
have something you think would be right for our column.
Remember — what seems commonplace for you might seem
new and exciting to our readers! ± 73 de AA6TS

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 61

 4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL
BY JOE EISENBERG,* KØNEB
kit-building
̽ÃÊ
ÀÞÃÌ>Ê
i>Àt
Crystal Sets and Accessories from WB5REX
D
ecember begins the long cold months of win-
ter here in Nebraska, and what better time
than now to enjoy a crystal radio kit? The
Dunwoody High Performance Crystal Set Kit is a
great kit and would look nice on any ham’s table.
This is another great kit put out by Lance Borden,
WB5REX. Lance also produces other styles of
crystal radio kits as well as the “Armstrong One-
Tube Receiver” I reviewed in the January 2016
issue of CQ. The winter months are prime DXing
time for the AM broadcast band, and this kit fits the
bill, along with its coverage of the shortwave broad-
cast bands as well.
When I give my kit-building seminars, I often point
out the benefits of having on hand the required
things your kit might need once it is completed to
try it out. This kit requires just an antenna and a
ground connection. The antenna can be just a ran-
dom wire stretched out, like to a tree. I used my
160-meter top-fed half-wave loaded sloper, and it
worked superbly. I would suggest that this kit takes
*7133 Yosemite Drive, Lincoln, NE 68507
e-mail: <k0neb@cq-amateur-radio.com>
Dunwoody High Performance Crystal Set Kit parts
unpacked and read for assembly.
62 • CQ • December 2016
about two hours to assemble, with about half of it
devoted to winding the 100-turn tapped coil.
Lance supplies the enameled coil wire on a small
plastic spool, making for easier winding without
kinking the wire. I used the supplied sandpaper to
initially clean the coil taps, but discovered that the
supplied wire also strips and tins quickly using the
hot solder blob method. Certain kinds of enameled
wire lend themselves to this method, while others
do not. I simply turn up the heat on my iron to max-
imum, and create a hot blob on the tip. Holding this
blob on the enameled wire melts and vaporizes the
insulation, and leaves a nice clean tinned surface.
Shake off the excess solder from the wire and you
have a nice clean connecting surface. Note that
this method does create a bit of “solder smoke,” so
be sure the room is well ventilated.
The remaining part of the assembly goes quite
quickly, and assembles easily with the pilot holes
having already been drilled into the soft wood base.
There are six Fahnestock clips and solder lugs to
make the connections for the detector, antenna,
ground, and headphones; and a length of hookup
wire that will need to be cut into pieces to make the
various connections needed. There are also two
alligator clips that comprise the movable connec-
tions to the coil. One clip is the connection to the
detector, and the other varies the inductance for
the tuning circuit.
The amazing thing about crystal radios is their
ability to listen to AM broadcast stations without the
use of batteries or AC power. A crystal set relies
entirely on the energy in the RF from the radio sta-
tion to create an audible signal. This crystal set
functions by selecting the right amount of induc-
tance and detector coupling using the coil taps, fol-
lowed by the ground tuning and the main tuning
capacitors to bring in the desired station.
There are three local AM stations here in town, all
running 1 kilowatt at night, and all three came in quite
easily. By playing around with which taps to use and
adjusting the two capacitors, the selectivity could be
varied as well as the frequency range of the tuning
capacitors. My strongest signal received was
KFOR-AM 1240, whose transmitter is about 4 miles
away. Amazingly, I could tune it out, and dial in KLIN
AM 1400 as well as KLMS AM 1480, a local sports
station. Two Omaha signals were also audible,
KXSP AM 590 (5 kilowatts) and KFAB AM 1110 (50
kilowatts). Omaha is about 50 miles away.
For experimenters, the detector diode can be
easily replaced by a homemade or antique “cat’s
whisker” galena detector for even more fun. There
are two Fahnestock clips provided for this purpose.
The supplied crystal earpiece can also be replaced
by a set of high-impedance headphones. Lance
offers a limited number of Chinese military surplus
Visit Our Web Site
The 100-turn coil wound and mounted on the board and
ready for stripping the insulation on the taps.
The completed crystal set tuned to hear my beloved
Huskers play!
headphones of this type, and the set I tried was impressive-
ly louder than the crystal earpiece. You can also connect an
audio amplifier to the output to play through a speaker, but
crystal radio purists stick to just using a headset or earpiece
that is strictly powered by the detected RF. You can order
the Dunwoody High Performance Crystal Set Kit at <http://
www.xtalman.com> for $59.95.
Lance also offers an antenna tuner kit to better match your
antenna to the frequency the crystal set is trying to tune. That
kit is called the Morgan Antenna Tuner kit, and sells for
$49.95. This kit assembles similarly to the Dunwoody High
Performance Crystal Set kit. It also uses manually variable
coil taps and two air-variable capacitors to form a highly effi-
cient antenna-matching network, suitable for not just crystal
sets but other SWL and AM broadcast receivers.
Lance also offers the Bucher QRM Rejector, which is a very
sharp notch filter designed for the AM broadcast band. This
filter has a coil and a variable capacitor that form the wave-
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
Morgan Antenna Tuner Kit.
Bucher QRM Rejector Kit.
trap. This kit has the coil standing upright, but the taps are
not variable. Instead, tuning is done strictly with a single air-
variable capacitor. This filter kit is designed to notch out a
strong local AM broadcast signal, so that other stations can
also be heard. Crystal radios are notorious for having prob-
lems with strong signal overload, and this kit allows you to
hear more stations than thought possible in a strong-signal
environment. As with the tuner kit, this kit can also be used
with a regular receiver to reduce interference from a strong
local AM broadcast station.
You can also order the Bucher QRM Rejector and the tuner
kit at <http://www.xtalman.com> for $39.95.
Finally, at this time of the year, be sure to follow proper ESD
(electrostatic discharge) procedures when building kits, espe-
cially those that utilize CMOS devices, such as MOSFETs or
CMOS ICs. Wintertime brings indoor humidity down to very
low levels, especially in cold weather climates, and compo-
nent damage can result. ± Until next time, 73 DE KØNEB
December 2016 • CQ • 63
emergency communications
CORY GB SICKLES, WA3UVV
7À}Ê7Ì
Ê9ÕÀÊÌ>ÌÃ
O
ne of the more iconic movie characters in
my lifetime is Lieutenant Harry Callahan —
more commonly known as “Dirty Harry.”
Expertly portrayed by Clint Eastwood, Harry is a
no-nonsense “man’s man” who bucks authority but
gets results. He fits well into the times in which the
movies were made, although they might be a
somewhat harder sell in today’s social-political
environment.
Harry is short on words, but there are certain
phrases that immediately stepped out of the films
and became part of the popular vernacular, like
“…you’ve gotta ask yourself one question: ‘Do I
feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”
I was reminded of another one recently — “A
man’s got to know his limitations” — which I tend
to use from time to time. As hams interested in
emergency and public service communications,
we would all like to think we are ready for whatev-
er may come. But the reality is that we are not.
Once each of us realizes that, I think we can be
stronger for it.
I have a tendency to write this column in gen-
eral terms, encompassing many scenarios and
situations. I try to do that to engage as many of
*e-mail: <wa3uvv@gmail.com>
REACT International is a public service organization with a long and storied history. Its recruiting ad
appears regularly in CQ and — if you haven’t recently — you should visit the REACT website and see
what you can learn from it.
64 • CQ • December 2016
you as possible, while keeping in mind that we all
need to prepare for different things. Natural dis-
asters of any kind can conceivably occur any-
where — although woe upon you if you experi-
ence a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, forest fire,
downed airplane, wide-scale flooding and poiso-
nous gas release in the same year. (That said,
we did come close to it in New Jersey a few years
back.)
While California is visited with fires, earthquakes
and mudslides, it isn’t often we hear about hurri-
canes hitting the state. Likewise, there aren’t too
many earthquakes (of any significance) on the
East Coast, but hurricanes are becoming regular
concerns.
It may certainly seem wonderful to be trained in
every possible aspect of what to do when things
go wrong, but practicality dictates that you can’t
relegate yourself to being a “lifetime student.” I
think most of us would agree that it is best to be
more thoroughly skilled in what’s most likely to
affect us — especially within the confines of what
services we can offer to the agencies we have the
opportunities to serve.
The other thing is that while good training is
essential — and sometimes mandatory — in doing
what we can do, we can easily burn out seasoned
Visit Our Web Site
A quick discussion of APRS — with your laptop open to <www.aprs.fi> — can
serve as a nice visual aid when discussing the technology and how its use could
serve organizers of bike rides and marathons.
hams and completely discourage inter-
ested newcomers with over-reaching
requirements. This is especially true if
that training has little or no practical use
in our respective local areas or regions.
We can say that we want to be there
to help out if our local 911 center goes
down. That may sound all well and
good, but what if that means we need
to be counted on to provide 32 skilled
communicators within 15 minutes of the
initial activation for the first 12 hours and
another group of 32 for the next shift?
Can you say — with a straight face —
that you have, at any time of year and
any time of any day, that many radio
amateurs available to drop whatever
they are doing and immediately re-
spond? If not, then this is beyond your
capabilities. Know your limitations.
Up-front embarrassment can be
avoided by interviewing someone in the
know at an agency you would like to
assist. By learning more about who they
are, what they do, and what they could
use when the time comes, you — and
your group — can be of more value.
Also, some honest conversation can
suggest alternate things you can do, in
cases where the requirements of what
you may initially had in mind are over-
whelming.
If your capabilities are better applied
to public service events like bike races,
marathons, and parades, then that’s
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
what you should offer. There’s no rea-
son to be ashamed. You’re coming to
your community and event organizers
with more applicable strengths. The
presence of your group will allow fewer
police officers to be engaged (which
can save taxpayer or charity money) in
locations where they are not specifical-
ly needed and be positioned instead at
locations where a police presence is
more important.
Public service events also allow you
to be of use more frequently. Natural
disasters — thankfully — happen with
less frequency than planned outdoor
events. A regular schedule also lets you
know who will consistently turn out —
on time and prepared — and gives
everyone additional “real world” train-
ing experience.
The regularity of interaction also
brings your members closer to those
they serve. Familiarity encourages
trust. Trust is a very valuable thing.
If members of your group are readily
prepared with a suitable radio, extra
batteries, better antenna, speaker-mic,
etc. that they can grab and go, they’ll
also have a better understanding of why
they need such things. Knowing they
should have bottled water, some ener-
gy bars and dry socks helps too, as they
make use of those. So do proper acces-
sories such as reflective vests, hats and
rain gear — as needed.
December 2016 • CQ • 65
 I keep a bag in the back of my car, so I don’t have to give
a lot of thought about preparation when an opportunity comes
up on short notice. It doesn’t mean I’m ready for everything
and anything, but I don’t have to scramble at the last minute
MAINTAINED hMACHINEv
to cover my part of a bike race.
Keeping a set of batteries charged or several “loads” of dis-
posable AA cells is also an essential part of your kit. If you
keep them (or anything else) separate from the radio, make
sure you have a checklist to review before heading out.
Referring to another of our internalized bits of wisdom — “A
short pencil is better than a long memory.”
While I like to bring along certain portable ham rigs in my
collection to different events (necessitating different Go
Bags) I also keep an older analog-only portable in the car,
as a backup radio or a spare for someone else to borrow. It
doesn’t take up much space and with my collection of radios,
isn’t much of a stretch.
The older radio, by the way, is one that can be programmed
on the fly — direct from the keyboard — and does not require
programming software. The middle of an event is no time to
start delving into unfamiliar territory or to have to get out your
laptop computer — if you remembered to bring it.
Speaking of laptops, it’s great to have the capabilities to
move data and pass forms with D-RATS, Winlink, NBEMS,
and other applications — unless no one needs or wants you
to. While support for medical communications can be vastly
improved with the ability to fill in and send certain forms, I
know I have never been asked to do this during an MS-150
bike ride, multi-lap race, or July 4th parade. Thus, the
expense in preparing to do so is less of an investment and
more of an expense. Such expenses add up for all of those
involved in your exercises.
Making the Most of APRS
APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) is something
that allows you and event organizers to know where every-
one is stationed. Additional APRS packages can let you know
where the pace car is and where the last runner/rider is
presently located.
APRS also allows you to send and receive text messages
that may be commonly used. Such routine traffic can keep
things moving in a timely fashion — especially if the “voice
circuit” is tied up with some issue or emergency. Things like
“On Station,” “First Rider,” etc., are just a few key presses
away and can add to our perceived value when seen by mem-
bers of the agencies we serve.
Portables like the Yaesu FT1 and FT2 have this capability
built in, as do the Kenwood TH-D72 and new TH-D74. If your
(more basic) radio doesn’t have it, or you need to build a sep-
arate APRS package, no big deal. It’s something you can
graduate into. If your event is simply a parade or walk with
little traffic being passed, then APRS may not have any
“essential value” for that particular exercise. Think about this
in advance and know the difference.
Of note, I participated in an event recently where APRS
would have been of value, as the pace car mistakenly went
off course with several of the lead runners following faithful-
ly behind it. It created some confusion and if APRS had been
used, the head of the organizing group could have been alert-
ed to what was happening — early on.
Post-Game Show
We may employ the technology next year, as we get more
and more used to working with that particular event orga-
66 • CQ • December 2016
h4HIS ISSUE IS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY BUT ALL THE
ELECTRONICS IN THE WORLD CANT SOLVE PROBLEMS
AS EFFECTIVELY AS A WELL
OF RADIO AMATEURS WHO ARE PREPARED AND QUICK
ON THEIR FEET WHEN SURPRISES COME ALONGv
nizer. This brings to mind another advantage of participating
in recurring events — learning from the past. Every time, all
of us are able to do a “Post-Game Show” and review what
went right and what did not.
From that, we can learn to not repeat past mistakes (leav-
ing us free to make new mistakes) and find ways to improve
our effectiveness and value. Also, as we get to be further
trusted, the idea of adding additional capabilities will usual-
ly garner a warmer reception. The more we do properly, the
more we are trusted and the more we get to do and be trust-
ed. It’s relationship building that’s at the core.
Progressively, we can get referrals from municipalities and
agencies we serve, plus use them as references. When
meeting someone for the first time — where ham radio rep-
resents an unknown (or worse, a bad experience) — it’s nice
to have references who can talk about the positives of the
working relationship they have with YOUR group.
All of this “happy, happy, joy, joy” vibe serves to inspire
your team members and makes it more likely they will con-
tinue to participate. Plus, it’s more likely they’ll speak posi-
tively to other hams and encourage them to join in. Some of
the most effective EmComm teams I’ve seen do not use the
most recent state of the art technology to accomplish their
mission(s). They are successful because they train, know
each other, stay prepared, act calm and cool in a crisis, plus
many other things you can’t buy with cash, check, or a plas-
tic card.
I have also learned of REACT <www.reactintl.org> teams
using 27-MHz CB and GMRS gear that have outperformed
ARES teams during the same emergency response. The dif-
ference was not found in the radios, but in the value of the
training and not being over-confident. As with most anyone
else, I like having the latest technology on hand, but that
doesn’t make my team and me “the adults in the room.”
Rather, that comes with experience, maturity (different from
age), and how well you play with others. Also, factor in the
ability to admit you made a mistake and learn from it.
Socializing with the members of your club or EmComm
team is essential in getting everyone to know everyone else.
A few laughs over lunch (Taco Tuesdays) or barbeques at
the clubhouse goes a long way. I never conduct a meeting
without food and drinks of some sort, as that is just one of
those things that seems to bring people closer together. I
can’t say I’ve been friends with everyone I’ve worked or vol-
unteered with, but I’ve had enough respect for others involved
and the importance to what we are doing to make sure I treat
everyone with respect.
This issue is about technology, but all the electronics in the
world can’t solve problems as effectively as a well-main-
tained “machine” of radio amateurs who are prepared and
quick on their feet when surprises come along. Constraining
yourselves to stay within the parameters of what you know
you can do well serves everyone better than preparing for
everything under the sun. There is a significant strength when
men — and women — know their limitations and strive to do
their best within that arena.
Visit Our Web Site
 learning curve
BY RON OCHU,* KOØZ
-,\ÊÊÊÌiÊÕt
H
appy holidays! The festive season is once
again with us and it’s a time to celebrate
family and friends and to prepare for anoth-
er new year. This is also that time of year in the
Northern Hemisphere when the thermometer’s
mercury inches closer to 20° F and below. Now is
a good opportunity to spend some quality time at
your workbench, working on some existing pro-
jects or maybe even trying some new ones. A good
New Year’s resolution is to try something new.
When it comes to ham radio, there is no shortage
of projects enabling us to learn more about our
beloved hobby.
One of ham radio’s greatest strengths has to be
the sheer amount of talent, intelligence, and inge-
nuity found within its ranks! I am constantly
amazed, on an almost daily basis, as to how ama-
teurs continue to advance FCC Part 97.1 (b):
“Continuation and extension of the amateur’s
proven ability to contribute to the advancement of
the radio art.” On that note, we need to get more
young folks involved with amateur radio, so that
they can further develop the radio art. Computer
technology offers one gateway into ham radio.
Youngsters are fascinated with computers. Field
Day events offering GOTA (Get On The Air) sta-
tions with PSK31 capabilities and impressive look-
ing waterfalls seem to be a youngster magnet (see
*e-mail: <ko0z@cq-amateur-radio.com>
Photo A. PSK-31 program screen. Notice DX stations NP4JL and EA4GWL in QSO. Computers
immensely complement ham radio.
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
Photo A). And why not? Integrating computer tech-
nology into ham radio is as natural as eggs and
bacon. Waterfall displays from panadapters, such
as Elecraft’s P3, make hunting DX signals even
more enjoyable and efficient (Photo B). Youth are
visually stimulated and engaged at an early age.
Unfortunately, I know a few amateurs, around
my age, who refuse to use computers with ham
radio. It’s not that they are afraid that they’ll break
the computer or mess up the radio; rather, they
treat a computer as if it has some dreaded, con-
tagious virus that not only takes away from ham
radio enjoyment, but is viewed as ham radio’s
death knell. As a result, they will not participate in
Field Day because of computer logging. That’s too
bad, for in my opinion, computers add a great deal
to the hobby. For example, computers make log-
ging a whole less cumbersome (Photo C). Their
fear of something new is limiting their ham radio
horizons and subsequent growth. We need to ven-
ture out of our comfort zones to pursue something
that appears daunting, but offers new and excit-
ing ham radio horizons. Otherwise, we stagnate
on many different levels.
Discovering SDR
SDR, or software-defined radios is one of those
bright ham radio horizons. SDR is exciting,
dynamic and an integral part of every modern ham
radio manufactured today. This month, I’d like to
offer what I know about SDR, which admittedly is
December 2016 • CQ • 67
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Photo B. Shot taken from an Elecraft P3 panadapter showing CW signals on
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(OMEBREWING 4ECHNIQUES
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!NTENNAS
These two antenna
anthologies cover all types
Photo C. Computer logging makes contesting so much easier and far more
of antenna designs and
theory from 160 meters
accurate.
through microwaves. not very much, and hopefully inspire transceiver. What makes SDR power-
Articles have been selected you to dabble with this new, exciting ful is that the signals that the transceiv-
to be as timely and technology. er receives can now be processed with-
valuable to today’s Ham.
So what is SDR? Software-defined in a computer much more efficiently.
!NTENNAS   radio is the future of ham radio be- Nearby signals next to the one you are
Order No. ANT1 $16.00 $7.00
cause it is furthering the technical art trying to copy can be attenuated better
of amateur radio. According to SDR- (selectivity), signals that are right at the
!NTENNAS   Radio.com: “Software-defined radio noise level can be brought out and
$16.00 $7.00
Order No. ANT2 (SDR) is a radio communication sys- made intelligible (sensitivity). SDR is
tem where components that have been limited by the processing capability of
"UY ALL  FOR ONLY  Order 4ANTS typically implemented in hardware the computer, soundcard, its sampling
Shipping & Handling: U.S. add $7 for the first item, (e.g. mixers, filters, amplifiers, modu- rate and the sophistication of the soft-
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shipping on orders over $100 to one U.S. address.
CN/MX-$15 for 1st item, $7 for 2nd and $3 for each
are instead implemented by means of constantly improving SDR programs.
add’l. All Other Countries-$25 for 1st item, $10 for 2nd software on a personal computer or Best of all, SDR radios do not have to
and $5 for each additional. Buy Both=single item! embedded system.” cost an arm and a leg. For next to noth-
In other words, a transceiver is still a ing, it’s possible for all of us to get in on
CQ The Radio Amateur's Journal transceiver. It will emit radio signals and the ground floor of SDR radio and to
516-681-2922
receive them just like an older, analog learn more about signal processing.
http://store.cq-amateur-radio.com

68 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

Photo D. The RTL-SDR dongle a very versatile and inex-
pensive ham shack accessory.
RTL-SDR Dongles are quite affordable and there is tremen-
dous support. The possibilities that SDR brings to the hobby
are limited only by imagination.
SDR Possibilities
RTL-SDR dongles offer a ham operator a whole slew of new
choices to explore. For example, on the RTL-SDR.com web-
site, SDR dongles have been used to make powerful, inex-
pensive scanners that can be used with: “ADS-B, AIS,
Trunked Radio, Police/EMS Scanner (P25/TETRA/Ana-
logue), Weather Satellites, HF Reception, Filter & VSWR
Meter, L-Band Satellites, Radio Astronomy, Air Traffic
Control, ACARS, Weather Balloons, Reverse Engineering,
Monitoring Pagers, Amateur/Professional Research, VHF
Amateur Radio (APRS/Voice etc.), Panadapter, General
Signal Browsing, Passive Radar, Direction Finding, and
Coherent Experiments!” Certainly, at least one of these pos-
sibilities sounds intriguing and inviting! For as little as $20, a
dongle can be bought and combined with your home com-
puter, and get you on the SDR bandwagon. You do not need
to be a software guru to get started in this interesting hobby
aspect.
SDR Scanner
Initially, what excited me most about this technology, besides
the low cost, is just how easy it is to turn a computer into an
all mode scanner with a display. The RTL-SDR dongle has
a frequency range of 24 to 1766 MHz (Photo D). Other don-
gles that can be found on EBay utilizing the RTL 2832 chipset
have frequency ranges in the 52- to 1864-MHz range (Photo
E). Photo F depicts my RTL-SDR dongle receiving local FM
broadcast stations about 30 miles distant from my QTH (loca-
tion). Photo G shows the dongle picking up the WS9V
repeater on a frequency of 444.250 MHz and this repeater
is located about 26 miles away from my QTH.
Panadapter
The next feature attracting me to the RTL-SDR dongle soft-
ware is the panadapter. According to the RTL-SDR.com web-
site, “A panadapter is device that allows you to visually see
the RF spectrum and waterfall being received by the ham
radio. There are multiple (expensive) commercial pan-
adapters available, but combined with a PC or laptop, the
RTL-SDR will work just as well.” In other words, a panadapter
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
Photo E. An inexpensive DVB-T=DAB=FM dongle pur-
chased on EBay. Make sure it is an R820T/R820T2 dongle.
can serve as an entry-level spectrum analyzer. This feature
not only allows signals to be spotted within the passband fre-
quency, but also allows the signal strength and its width to
be measured. To a lesser extent, the signal quality can also
be examined. A very useful, diagnostic feature and useful
workbench tool indeed! Spectrum analyzers can cost thou-
sands of dollars. Not too bad for a $20 investment. Photo H
is similar to Photo F; however, three more windows are
opened. In addition to seeing Springfield, Illinois, commer-
cial FM station WYMG 100.5 on the panadapter with water-
fall, I also can examine the IF spectrum, FM WPX spectrum
and the audio spectrum embedded within WYMG’s broad-
cast signal. For example, looking at the audio spectrum win-
dow, I see that the station really boosts the bass frequencies
and that the audio is equalized from 5K to 15K.
FM Sidebands
Every ham is familiar with upper and lower sideband modes
on HF. However, were you aware that an FM signal puts out
sidebands as well? Photo I clearly reveals FM sidebands pro-
duced from my HT while transmitting on 146.52 MHz. It’s
interesting to note the deviation of the main carrier as well
as the decreasing signal strength of the sidebands across
the spectrum.
There’s More…
I’ve only touched on the two features that initially interested
me the most. There is a lot more to explore with this amaz-
ing dongle. Earlier in this article some features of this don-
gle were mentioned such as radio astronomy, radio scan-
ning etc. I am amazed that somebody was able to unlock the
potential of this device, develop software and make it avail-
able to the amateur radio community! Kudos to these dedi-
cated and selfless individuals! Keep in mind, I am far, far from
being a SDR guru, but there are plenty of folks around who
are and there are online resources. The website <http://
www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/> is a great place to learn more
about inexpensive SDR.
What Do I Need?
First of all, go to the RTL-SDR website and do a little home-
work. The site recommends various dongles available for
purchase. The dongle is based on the DVB-T+DAB+FM high
definition European TV dongle. What’s important is that the
December 2016 • CQ • 69
dongle uses the RTL 2832U chipset. Complete, easy to follow installation antenna to the dongle. For my initial,
The RTL-SDR website recommends: instructions are found on <http://www. exploratory foray with the dongle, I sim-
“Currently, the most common RTL-SDR rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-quick-start-guide/>. ply used a PL-259 connector with a wire
dongle is the R820T/R820T2 which soldered to the center pin (Photo J),
usually sells for under $20 USD.” which is in turn attached to a SMA
Once the dongle is procured, the next Getting the Signal to the adapter. All the photos in this article
step is to download the program sdr- Dongle were taken from signals received from
sharp. It can be found on the RTL- To my surprise, the RTL-SDR dongle is that indoor antenna. The RTL.SDR don-
SDR.com website. It is best to create a more sensitive than I thought possible. gle uses SMA connectors, one for HF
folder separate from Windows program After all, what will $20 really get you? and the other for VHF and higher. If the
files. I used Windows File Explorer to Even the RTL-SDR website stresses dongle does not have a SMA connec-
create a folder on my C drive that I name the importance of connecting a good tor, then most likely an MCX connector
RTL-SDR. I then downloaded the sdr-
sharp program into that folder and
extracted the zipped file. Also, make
sure that your Windows operating sys-
tem has Microsoft .NET 4.6 redistrib-
utable installed. If not, a free copy can
be downloaded from Microsoft. Win-
dows 10 already has it installed. It’s also
“mission critical” to open and install
zadig.exe. Make sure that the zadig.exe
program is in the same folder where the
sdrsharp executable file is located. It
comes with the sdrsharp program, but
it’s easy to overlook this critical instal-
lation. Failure to do so will get you the
message, “1 compatible devices have
been found but are all busy,” when try-
ing to start the sdrsharp program.

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Success Easy Photo F. Panadapter display of a local commercial FM broadcast station.
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70 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

 +DP7HVW2QOLQH
ŚĂƐŵŽƌĞ
will be needed (Photo K). An MCX con- figure (gear icon) located on the upper ϱƐƚĂƌƌĞǀŝĞǁƐƚŚĂŶĂůůŽƚŚĞƌ
nector at one end with a BNC or other left hand of the program and increasing
connector will make life easier. the RF gain (Photo L). By default, the
ĞdžĂŵƐƚƵĚLJŵĞƚŚŽĚƐĐŽŵďŝŶĞĚ

Most of these dongles come equipped program has the RF gain set low. H+DPQHWUHYLHZV
with a small, magnetic antenna. They
do work, but before long, an antenna All Mode ϱဒϳ
with more gain will be needed. Ad- Another great feature of using sdrsharp RXWRIVWDUV
mittedly, the dongle would perform even with the RTL-SDR dongle is having an VWDU ϱϲဒ
better if were attached to an outside all mode scanner (Photo M). When get- VWDU ϭϲ
antenna with gain. Speaking of gain, it’s ting started, having a nearby, strong sig- VWDU Ϯ
important to crank up the gain in the sdr- nal source is helpful and the commer- VWDU ϭ
sharp program. Do so by going to con- cial FM broadcast band is perfect. Don’t VWDU Ϭ
DVRI2FWREHU

dŚĞďĞƐƚƐƚƵĚLJŵĞƚŚŽĚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ 
ĂŶĚŐƵĂƌĂŶƚĞĞŝŶƚŚĞŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ

ZZZKDPWHVWRQOLQHFRP


/,
Ê,
"Ê

<
In circulation over 26 years, ER is
a monthly publication celebrating
classic equipment that was the
pride of our shacks just a few
years ago. Send $1 for a sample:
ER, PO Box 242
Bailey, CO 80421-0242
720-924-0171
777° ,
°
"

Photo H. Spectral display of commercial FM radio station WYMG. Note the five
windows that depict various aspects of the received signal.

Photo I. FM sidebands produced and seen on the sdrsharp panadapter from my

HT transmitting on 146.520 MHz.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 71

forget to scroll down to radio on the left-hand column and to
select WFM for Wideband FM while tuning in the commer-
cial FM band. For monitoring FM ham radio signals, select
NFM for narrowband FM. Do note, that it’s possible to select
USB, LSB, or CW with this program, making it possible to lis-
ten to signals around 144.200 MHz, 432.100 MHz, and
1296.100 MHz and everything in between!
There’s No Limit!
There’s no limit to what this device can do. Because hams
are willing to explore, to experiment and to share, we now
Photo J. My puny, nowhere ideal, homemade, PL-259 anten-
na used for testing the dongle.
Photo L. Don’t forget to open up the RF gain with sdrsharp.
72 • CQ • December 2016
have at our fingertips an inexpensive device that a few years
ago would have required thousands of dollars in equipment
to do the same thing. Again, I am amazed at the ingenuity of
ham radio operators!
I hope this introductory article sparked a little interest.
Perhaps, over the dead of winter, you’ll find yourself, along
with a few ham radio buddies, playing around with this soft-
ware and dongle exploring the wide-open world of SDR radio!
Thank you for reading CQ. Happy holidays and here’s wish-
ing you every holiday blessing and for a healthy 2017!
± 73, Ron, KOØZ
Photo K. MCX connector fits the European dongles. A BNC
at the other end makes attaching antennas easier.
Photo M. sdrsharp offers all mode capabilities.
Visit Our Web Site

4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL
«ÀÛ}Ê+,*Ê-Ì>ÌÊ
vvViVÞÊ
And the Wonders of Ladder Line
T
his month we delve into the topic of QRP sta-
tion efficiency — how much signal loss occurs
between your transceiver and antenna? For
those of us who operate with an output power of 5
watts or less, station efficiency can mean the dif-
ference between successfully making contacts and
making none at all.
Also, this month we introduce a new segment to
the column entitled “QRP Achievements.” I am
always stunned at what can be done with QRP and
this month you can read about some of the accom-
plishments made by fellow QRP operators. I
believe this segment will become a favorite for
readers and will entice others (even the QRO folks)
to give QRP a try!
How Much Loss Do You Have?
Signal loss can rob the QRP operator of precious
power output. Long runs of feedline (transmission
line) between your transceiver and antenna, poor
quality feedline, and numerous jumper cables and
coaxial connections linking your transceiver to a
variety of accessories all contribute to signal loss.
The signal from your QRP transmitter can be sig-
nificantly diminished by the time it reaches your
antenna if consideration is not given to proper sta-
tion setup.
* 1181 Smith Rd.
Traverse City, MI 49696
<ka8sma@cq-amateur-radio.com>
Photo A. A simple
junction box with a
double banana plug
seated on top. Also seen
is the “mini-tower”
holding three feed lines
equipped with male
banana plugs.
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
qrp: low-power communications
BY R. SCOTT ROUGHT,* KA8SMA
At one time, my QRP station was a rat’s nest of
jumper cables connecting a variety of station
accessories. When I started working QRP in the
1990s, I removed the coax jumper cable leading
into the back of my Kenwood TS-530S transceiv-
er and plugged it into a transmit/receive switch for
toggling between my QRP CW transmitter and
Drake 2-B receiver. All of the jumper cables and
station accessories “downstream” of my TS-530S
remained in-place…I was “pushing” 2 watts
through a transmit/receive switch, SWR meter,
wattmeter, and an antenna tuner prior to my sig-
nal reaching the feedline for its final journey to the
antenna. This mess of cables equated to approx-
imately five feet of RG-58/U (cut into miscella-
neous lengths for jumper cables between acces-
sories) and eight PL-259/SO-239 paired coaxial
connections for connecting each piece of equip-
ment. Although this worked and I successfully
made QRP contacts, my station’s efficiency could
have been better.
I have since adopted the “Keep It Simple,
Stupid” (KISS) principle, which states that most
things work best if kept simple, rather than com-
plicated. I believe we can all agree that some
degree of loss is incurred when there are multi-
ple jumper cables, station accessories, and
numerous PL-259 and SO-239 connections
inside the shack. Since I am trying to push all the
power I can to the antenna, I “keep it simple” by
eliminating as much loss as possible in the shack
prior to the signal entering the feedline.
December 2016 • CQ • 73

Photo B. W3TIM’s Tuna Tin 2 CW transmitter. Who says it needs to be mounted
in a can? (W3TIM photo)
My current QRP station is simple…a
Yaesu FT-817 mounted atop an MFJ-
971 antenna tuner. A short piece of coax
connects the FT-817 to the antenna
tuner, which is wired directly into a junc-
tion box equipped with a female double
banana plug (Photo A). This setup
allows me to quickly change antennas
when chasing DX or contesting and
allows me to easily disconnect the
antenna when I am finished operating
for the day. As seen in Photo A, my
“mini-tower” holds feedlines (with male
double banana plugs connected) for
three antennas that can be quickly
inserted into the junction box.
My Fixation with Ladder Line
For years I had read about the lure of
ladder line, but never tried it because I
was accustomed to coax. After all, “if it
ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” right? Wrong!
Words cannot express how much I
regret not joining the ladder line club
earlier in my ham life.
I discovered the magic of ladder line
one hot and humid Saturday afternoon. I
was on my roof making repairs to my
homebrew 20-meter, roof-mounted
beam and fiddling with the matching net-
work. I was feeding the beam with RG-
8U (coax) and had adjusted and tweaked
the matching network every which way
possible but could not get a satisfactory
match. I went up and down the ladder that
day more times than I can count and by
mid-afternoon, frustration (and a little
heat exhaustion) had set in. I was getting
ready to call it a day when I recalled read-
ing about a ham who had used ladder line
(instead of coax) to feed a quad. He need-
74 • CQ • December 2016
ed a long run of feedline from the shack
to the quad and was concerned that any
gain achieved by the quad would be lost
due to the long run of coax. To correct
the problem, he removed the matching
network from the quad and fed it directly
with 450-ohm ladder line. He used an
antenna tuner (equipped with a 4:1
balun) inside the shack to make the
match to the transceiver. Recalling what
he had done, I reached for a roll of 300-
ohm twinlead (poor man’s ladder line) I
had in the garage to try this for myself. I
removed the matching network from my
beam and fed it directly with the twinlead.
I ran the twinlead into the ham shack and
connected it to my antenna tuner (balun-
equipped). After a few seconds of twist-
ing and turning knobs on my antenna
tuner, I had a good match and was on the
air. I could not believe how loud 20 meters
sounded with the twinlead in comparison
to what I was accustomed to hearing with
coax. After making a few contacts and
receiving excellent signal reports from
hams in Europe, I was convinced I had
to make the switch from coax to ladder
line. By the following Saturday, the switch
was complete. From that point forward, I
have only used ladder line to feed my
antennas.
Last fall I was scrolling across 40
meters (working phone) and stumbled
upon a “Ø” station calling CQ. I respond-
ed to the CQ and promptly received a
greeting from a ham in Nebraska. We
exchanged the customary information
(signal report, name, QTH, etc.) and he
gave me a solid S-9 signal report. My
signal was so loud he said it sounded
like I was transmitting from across town.
Unfortunately, I could not be as kind with
his signal report as he was about S5 to
S6. When I told him I was operating
QRP he was in disbelief…“You’re kid-
ding, really?” He informed me that he
had tried QRP in the past and had little
luck in making contacts with low power.
He was interested in my working condi-
tions and told him I was running 5 watts
into a horizontal loop. He was running
100 watts into a dipole.
As our QSO continued I indicated I was
using ladder line to feed my loop and he
responded that he was using coax (RG-
8X) and was familiar with ladder line but
had never tried it. I told him that I
switched from coax to ladder line sever-
al years ago and that my only regret was
that I had not done it sooner. A few
months later I received a letter with a
QSL card confirming our QSO. He wrote
that he had replaced his run of RG-8X
(nearly 80 feet in length) with ladder line
and was amazed at the difference. Most
importantly, he had tried QRP again and
had success in making not just one con-
tact, but several contacts QRP-style.
Does your Feedline Charge
a Tax?
Do you know your feedline’s loss or how
much power is being delivered to the
antenna? If not, get online and visit one
of the many feedline loss calculators
such as the one offered by QSL.net
<http://bit.ly/2dzZc2T>. You may be
enlightened once you input values for
your station’s setup. The QSL.net calcu-
lator allows you to choose a particular
feedline (i.e. RG-213U, RG-8X, ladder
line, etc.) and will calculate its total loss
in decibels (dB) and power output (in
watts) after you have entered the length
of the feedline, input power and desired
frequency in megahertz (MHz). For
example, if you enter 100 feet of RG-8X
(Belden 9258) as your length and type of
feedline with a power input of 5 watts at
28 MHz, your calculated power output to
the antenna is 3.5 watts (total loss of 1.6
dB). For comparison purposes, you can
run the calculator again using the same
input values but choose a different type
of feedline. If we choose Wireman 553
(16-gauge ladder line) for our compari-
son, we discover the power output to the
antenna would be around 4.6 watts (total
loss of 0.35 dB). More than one watt dif-
ference between the two feedlines. One
watt may not seem like a lot to the aver-
age ham running 100 watts or to the QRO
operator, but to the QRP operator one
watt can make or break a contact.
Since I am trying to keep the interest
of those “non-QRP operators” also read-
ing this column, I calculated the output
Visit Our Web Site
power for the above feedlines using the When soldering PL-259 connectors to ity solder joint. A good solder joint is one
same input values except I changed the coax, take the time to solder the outer that is shiny and smooth looking, not
power input to 100 watts. According to braid of the coax to the body of the PL- one that is lumpy and lacking luster. I
the calculator, ladder line would provide 259 connector. Skipping this step (as have found that a larger iron (75 watts)
92 watts to the antenna and RG-8X many hams do) can lead to connector works well and provides enough heat
would provide 69 watts — a difference failure. The holes in the connector’s body for solder to flow evenly onto the body
of 23 watts. Even the ham running 100 were put there for a reason, so fill them of the connector when applied, and if
watts has something to ponder! with solder as was meant to be done. careful, will not melt the dielectric
It is to every ham’s advantage to spend Soldering the braid to the connector between the braid and center conduc-
a little time reviewing the different types can be difficult for those who have not tor. Always be sure to check for shorts
of feedlines available so you can deter- done this before. Experience suggests between the center conductor and braid
mine which one best suits your particu- that a pencil iron (25-30 watts) will not when finished soldering. I have had to
lar setup, the amount of loss you are will- work for this task. The body of the con- rework numerous jumper cables
ing to accept, and which feedline fits your nector has too much mass for a pencil because I held the tip of the iron against
budget. As you may have already iron to be effective at providing a qual- the connector’s body too long.
guessed, better quality (lower loss) feed-
line is generally more expensive. Con-
sideration also needs to be given to how
you will run the feedline to the antenna.
If you need to run feedline directly next
to metallic objects (i.e. aluminum siding,
metal roof, etc.) then coax may be for
you. Ladder line does not have an outer
shield like coax does, therefore an elec-
trical imbalance may occur in those por-
tions of the line that are too close to
metallic objects. This imbalance could
lead to additional loss. I try and keep my
ladder line at least one inch (about the
width of the ladder line) away from metal
objects. An imbalance may also occur
when ladder line gets wet (i.e. rain, snow
and ice); however, I have not noticed any
additional loss when my ladder line is
dripping wet from rain or is buried under
12-inches of snow and ice. I regularly
work the world regardless of Mother
Nature’s mood.
Remember, the feedline you choose
(whether coax or ladder line) is the
pipeline carrying signals (both transmit
and receive) between the transceiver
and antenna, and is an important ele-
ment for every ham to consider. The bot-
tom line is: Don’t skimp on the feedline!

A Few Other Considerations…

If you choose to use coax as your feed-
line, do not be afraid to solder your own
PL-259 connectors. Yes, you can pur-
chase pre-made coax jumpers and var-
ious lengths of coax with connectors
already fitted on each end; however,
soldering your own connectors pro-
vides you the opportunity to customize
each piece of coax specifically to your
station’s layout. Since long runs of feed-
line between the antenna and trans-
ceiver lead to signal loss, an extra 20 or
30 feet of feedline coiled up in the cor-
ner of the ham shack is just wasted sig-
nal. Likewise, why use a two-foot coax
jumper when all you need is one that is
six inches in length? Cut the cable to
the length you need and warm up your
soldering iron.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 75

 While we are on the subject of PL-259 connectors, I sug-
gest using silver-plated brass connectors with Teflon® insu-
lation separating the center pin from the connector’s body.
The silver plating will allow solder to flow easily onto the con-
nector and the Teflon® can withstand high temperatures
while soldering. Also, these connectors will not corrode like
some of the lesser quality connectors do over time.
Lastly, use a 25- or 30-watt iron to solder the center con-
ductor of the coax to the connector’s center pin and check
that no excess solder flowed onto the pin’s exterior while sol-
dering. If solder is present on the pin, it will eventually widen
the center of the SO-239 connector (socket into which the
PL-259 plugs), leading to a loose connection. If the SO-239
does not provide a snug fit, try using a pair of tweezers or a
dental pick to pry each tab inward to close the gap.
Bringing it Home!
No station can be 100% efficient. We need to accept that
there will always be some loss. For our friends who operate
QRO, some loss is acceptable; but for those of us who oper-
ate QRP, every bit counts. Shorter coax jumpers, fewer
accessories between the transceiver and feedline, and
ensuring your connections are solid (and soldered) will ben-
efit the QRP operator. Follow the KISS principle and use the
best quality feedline you can afford. Don’t be the ham who
spends a fortune on a tower and beam and uses bargain
feedline. In an upcoming column, we will discuss another
important consideration…antennas for the QRP operator.
QRP Achievements
This month I would like to focus on two hams who have done
more with less. First up is W3TIM, Tim Malony of Elkwood,
Virginia. Tim uses a Tuna Tin 2 CW transmitter he built from
ham radio news (from page 3)
FCC Seeks Comments on Petition Aimed at Vanity
Callsign Abuse
A ham from Nevada is seeking limits on the number of call-
sign changes an amateur can make during a 10-year license
term, and the FCC is considering the proposal.
According to the ARRL, Christopher LaRue, W4ADL, of North
Las Vegas has filed a Petition for Rule Making (RM-11775), ask-
ing the FCC to limit changes in vanity callsigns to one per license
term. LaRue contends that some amateurs are changing call-
signs “almost monthly,” with the intent of preventing newer Extra
Class licensees who have not had to pass a Morse code exam
from getting desirable 1x2 or 2x1 calls. Callsigns generally are
not reissued for two years after they expire or have been changed.
The full petition is on the FCC website at <https://ecfsapi.fcc.
gov/1004220986407/Petition%20.pdf>.
Nominations Sought for ARRL Humanitarian Award
Nominations are open for the 2016 ARRL International
Humanitarian Award, which recognizes an individual radio ama-
teur or amateur radio group “that has demonstrated devotion to
human welfare, peace, and international understanding”
through amateur radio. Nominations must be received by
December 31, 2016. For detailed information, visit <www.arrl.
org/international-humanitarian-award>.
Equipment Failure Causes Shift in ARISS
Operations
The apparent failure of the VHF amateur radio handheld used
on board the International Space Station for more than 16 years
has prompted the Amateur Radio on the International Space
76 • CQ • December 2016
a kit (Photo B). The final amplifier is a 2N2222 transistor that
peeps out 350 milliwatts into a 730-foot dipole up 80 feet.
Tim reports he feeds his monster antenna with ladder line
(sound familiar, eh?). Tim has made numerous contacts with
his Tuna Tin 2 and, in 2010, made 139 contacts over a two-
month period. During this time, he contacted 39 states and
seven countries and reports HA8BT in Hungary was his best
DX contact (a distance of 4,713 miles). An impressive feat,
but you may be more impressed when you learn this contact
was on 40 meters. Now that’s some QRP operating!
Our second ham is Larry Arave, W7LRY, of Fort Collins,
Colorado. Larry uses an Elecraft K3 and KX3 and enjoys
QRP when traveling or camping in the mountains of north-
ern Colorado. One of Larry’s most memorable contacts was
“QRP to QRP” when he contacted a ham on the west coast
who was using a Paraset radio — the same type of radio
used by British and European spies to communicate during
World War II. Both Larry and the other ham were using short
wire antennas and 5 watts or less. A memorable contact
indeed. Larry also tells of a day when he and a ham friend
(both equipped with their KX3s) were fishing at a lake in
Colorado and operated portable using camera tripods to sup-
port short vertical antennas. Larry reports that he ended his
fishing trip happier than if had caught the biggest fish in the
lake since he worked both Japan and Russia using SSB. He
describes QRP like the thrill of fishing…“Sometimes fishing
is not so good and sometimes you catch the big one…either
way it is always fun.”
Let me know how you operate QRP and your low power
achievements and I will do my best to work your story into a
future column.
± Until February, 73 and Happy Holidays
Station (ARISS) program to switch to the Kenwood radio in the
Russian Service Module. According to the ARRL and AMSAT,
the HT commonly used for ARISS contacts from the Columbus
Module began displaying an error message and so far has not
been able to be reset. The ARISS technical team back on the
ground is working on identifying and hopefully fixing the prob-
lem. Some operations on 70 centimeters are also being con-
sidered. The packet digipeater (for which the Kenwood rig is
normally used) has been shut down in the interim.
In other space news, two new satellites carrying amateur radio
payloads were launched in late September. The cubesats are the
Algerian AISat-1N and Indian Pratham. Both are downlink-only
satellites, making FSK data and/or CW beacon transmissions.
Danish Ham Finishes Round-the-World Bicycle Trip
Danish cyclist Thomas Anderson, OZ1AA/K9DXX, is back home
in Copenhagen after completing a six-year, 36,000-mile bicycle
trip around the world, visiting 58 countries along the way.
Newsline reports that Anderson used ham radio along the way,
mostly on VHF/UHF. His travels took him through the U.S. and
Canada, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia.
There’s been a less-successful ending to what was originally
a whimsical expedition to various countries dubbed “Cows Over
the World” by Minnesota ham Tom Callas, KCØW. According
to the ARRL Letter, Callas had operated from five different coun-
tries, using “COW” suffix calls. The trip came to an abrupt end
in Kiribati, the Letter reported, after all of Callas’s gear and even
clothes were stolen. He managed to receive “a money transfer”
to get him home. “It’s been a major financial blow,” Callas told
The Daily DX, “but I will pull through.”
Visit Our Web Site
 4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL
Û ViÊ, }Ê,Õ
`Õ«
S
o, you want to become a ham radio opera-
tor...That’s great! All you need to do is get a
license, which requires a 5 word-per-minute
Morse code test, plus a written exam of basic elec-
tronics knowledge and some of the more important
regulations. You’ll be able to communicate in code
only, on selected small sections of the 80-, 40-, and
15-meter bands. You’ll need to purchase some
fixed-frequency crystals, as your transmitted sig-
nal’s frequency will be controlled by these. This
means that when you call CQ, you’ll need to tune
around a bit for a response, as not everyone will
have the same crystal frequencies.
Also, you’ll be limited to no more than about 40
watts output. Your first station might be comprised
of used equipment or something you build from
plans in a magazine or book. It might even be mil-
itary surplus. Your homebrew transmitter will prob-
ably incorporate tubes and will have high voltages
floating around inside. Your homebrew receiver will
probably be quite simple and not all that sensitive,
with selectivity that’s not all that selective.
On top of that, your license will only be good for
one year and cannot be renewed. Before it runs
out, you’ll have to upgrade to a higher class license,
which requires a more difficult written exam and
possibly a faster code test. Also, because of the
time it takes the Federal Communications Com-
mission to process your license application, you
probably won’t get your license until about six
weeks have passed since your approved applica-
tion has been received. Finally, your callsign will
have a distinctive “N” in the prefix, letting everyone
know you are operating under these restrictions.
*email: <WA3UVV@gmail.com>
Visiting the Novice
Rig Round-Up
website will fill you
in on all the details
and give you plenty
of ideas — plus
inspiration — for
participating in this
event.
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
off the air
BY CORY GB SICKLES, *WA3UVV
Doesn’t this sound attractive? Ham radio is sure
to be a ball of fun with all of these requirements
and restrictions, isn’t it? Well, at one time, that was
how you became a member of the amateur radio
community. Believe it or not, it really was fun. You
learned a lot in that first year. Not everyone went
on to the next step, but many of those who became
hams with the Novice license and stayed with it
continued to enjoy ham radio and have fond mem-
ories of those early experiences.
I am one of them. My first callsign was WN3UVV
and my first station was made up of a Radio Shack
DX-150A solid-state general coverage receiver. My
choice of transmitter was a 35-watt output transmit-
ter built with a lot of parts from an old TV or a used
Heathkit DX-20, which produced about 20 watts.
I had a handful of crystals and spent most of my
time on the 40-meter band. My antenna was a sim-
ple dipole and my hand key was purchased from
Radio Shack (in those days, “Radio” and “Shack”
were two separate words – ed.). I eventually let
someone else starting out have my homebrew trans-
mitter and somebody else got the DX-20 and DX-
150A receiver. There are some days when I wish I
had held onto them, but I like to think that somewhere
out there, they’re still in (at least occasional) use by
someone who enjoys using vintage gear.
That is more likely than you might think, as there
are many hams who enjoy using older gear, aban-
doning the digital dial displays, finely-tuned filters
and 100-watt power levels of the solid-state trans-
ceivers found in today’s modern ham shack.
I am one of them, as I like to periodically fire up
a classic Echophone EC-1 five-tube receiver and
homebrew one-tube transmitter. I still have my
Novice crystals and first key, so they get some use,
December 2016 • CQ • 77
as well. I don’t necessarily need a special occasion to do this,
other than simply being in the mood.
There are some special events that encourage this, though.
The first day of each year is also known as Straight Key Night,
on which hams enjoy CW (Morse code) conversations — at
no particular number or pace — using non-electronic means
to tap out the dits and dahs of this satisfying mode. It’s also
a good excuse to fire up “vintage” gear (whatever that might
be to you) and perhaps enjoy the glow of some tubes — over
a 24-hour period.
At least one group of CW enthusiasts encourages the use of
keys and bugs on the first day of every month, with the think-
ing that there should be more of these occasions than just one
per year. In fact, the Straight Key Century Club <www.
SKCCGroup.com> encourages CW proficiency and use of
manual CW generation — especially on what remains of the
old Novice 40-meter band — from 7.100~7.125 MHz. The most
popular “watering hole” frequencies are 7.114 and 7.122 MHz.
In times past, there was also an event in February known
as the “Novice Roundup.” This was a competition designed
to encourage Novice licensees to get on the air and get a
light taste of contesting. Further, it attracted Technician,
General, Advanced, and Extra class licensees to join in and
work the Novices for points.
Over the years, the Novice and Technician class licenses
have gone through several changes, with increased alloca-
tions and decreased restrictions. In a move to simplify things,
the FCC eventually eliminated the Novice license exam,
although there are still those with such licenses active today.
Thinking that there should be at least one more way for CW
enthusiasts to relive the fun and memories of their Novice
experiences, the idea of a “Novice Rig Round-Up” (NRR) was
announced by Bry Carling, AF4K. Bry is well-known to many
Happy Holidays!
,OOKING !HEAD IN #1
Here are some of the articles we’re working on
for upcoming issues of CQ:
• End of the Line for 599?
• DXing for Duffers
• Results of the 2016 CQ WW VHF Contest
• 6- Meter EME from Iowa
Upcoming Special Issues
• February: QRP
• June: Take it to the Field
• October: Emergency Communications
Do you have a hobby radio story to tell? Something for
one of our specials? CQ now covers the entire radio
hobby. See our writers’ guidelines on the CQ website at
<http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_writers_
guide/cq_writers_guide.html>.
78 • CQ • December 2016
The Heathkit HW-16 was a popular entry-level CW trans-
ceiver kit sold from 1967-1976. After 40+ years as a ham, I
finally have one of my own.
hams as a consistent source of HF crystals in FT-243 forms,
which were popular back in the day.
With a minimal level of advance notice and advertising, the
first year’s NRR was considered a success and the enthusi-
asm from participants indicated that they should continue to
schedule the event. In 2017, the NRR runs from 0000 UTC
on February 18 through 0000 UTC on February 27. More
information is available on the event’s website (something
else we didn’t have in the 1970s) <www.NoviceRigRoundup.
com>. A visit there will give you some idea of what others will
be using on the air and should stimulate your imagination.
Also, a Facebook page has been established — not surpris-
ingly called “Novice Rig Round-up.”
Not everyone’s Novice experience was exactly the same.
When the license was first rolled out in the 1950s, Novices
were limited to only the 80-meter band. A later band expan-
sion included AM voice privileges (see October 2016
Emergency Communications column) on the 2-meter band.
By the time I became a ham, that allocation had been
removed and the Novice sub-bands had changed slightly.
After I became a ham, some frequency excursion was
allowed with the use of VXO (variable crystal oscillator) cir-
cuits — eventually giving way to full VFO (variable frequen-
cy oscillator) capabilities. Also, the power limitations were
raised and voice operation (single sideband) was allowed
from 28.300-28.500 MHz on the 10-meter band. The most
significant change was when knowledge of CW was dropped
as a requirement — eventually for all licenses.
Further, Novices got FM privileges on the 220-MHz (now
222 MHz) and 1.2-GHz bands. In recent years, the number
of Novice licenses has been steadily dwindling — owing to
loss of interest, upgrades to higher-class licenses, plus the
inevitable status change to “Silent Key.”
Most people entering ham radio today come into it as
Technicians. All Techs have HF opportunities, though I think
only a small percentage actually take advantage of them.
That’s a shame, as those bands have so much to offer.
While the CW test is no longer a requirement for admission
into amateur radio, a funny thing happened when the require-
ment was dropped. Almost immediately — it would seem —
interest in learning and enjoying CW increased. It would seem
there’s a big difference between “you must eat your vegeta-
bles” and “you should really try these tasty vegetables.”
As you are reading this in December and the NRR comes
up in mid-February, you have plenty of time to find or fix up
some classic gear. You also have plenty of time to learn CW
(you don’t have to be fast) and start to explore this mode.
As the Novice license evolved over its lifetime, so did the
equipment in common use by Novices. While my experiences
involved tubes, there were those who enjoyed lower power
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levels and tried getting on the air with just a few watts and
solid-state transmitters. As someone who also enjoys QRP
(low power operation), I can tell you there is a lot of fun await-
ing you in the land of 5 watts and under power levels.
Some Novices started out with hybrid (solid-state and tube)
transceivers such as the Kenwood TS-520 or Yaesu FT-101.
Others came in at a time when fully solid-state gear with dig-
ital VFO operation was state of the art. The primary point of
the NRR is to relive and rediscover the excitement you felt
with your first experiences on the air.
If you are still relatively new to ham radio, this might be a
good opportunity to talk to some of the more experienced
members of your radio club about their Novice year(s) and
what they used. This could help further spread the word about
the NRR and encourage even more to join in.
A 2016 Novice Station
I’ve often given thought to what my station might look like if
I started out in ham radio as a Novice today. My station might
be a simple transmitter — perhaps something from QRPME
<www.QRPME.com>, QRPKits <www.QRPKits.com>, or
the Four States QRP Club <www.4SQRP.com>; and a
Grundig <www.Universal-Radio.com> shortwave receiver.
If I was allowed VFO operation, then a Yaesu FT-450D or
ICOM IC-718 might represent affordable new gear. It’s nice
to think that even more kits would be available and that hams
in general would be building more of their own stations. It’s
even nice to reminisce and think that the Heath Company
could still be producing ham kits (Who knows? That may yet
be in the future for the newly-revived Heath Company. – ed.).
When I became interested in amateur radio, I wanted the
Heathkit HW-16 transceiver kit for my first station. It was a
basic affair with a tunable receiver covering the lower 250
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AT-1000ProII
1KW tuner features: 5 to 1,000 Watts PEP; RF Sensing;
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Two position antenna switch, 2,000 memories.
Suggested Price $539.99
Optional M-1000 external analog meter $129.99
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kHz of the 80-, 40-, and 15-meter bands, which encompassed
the Novice sub-bands at the time. The transmitter could pro-
duce 75+ watts input (it was easier to measure input power
than output power in those days) with a special mark on the
meter for the Novice’s 75-watt maximum. Given the tech-
nology of the day, that was about 40 watts out. While the rig
had a set of crystal sockets on the front panel, you could later
attach an external VFO, once you upgraded.
Long story short — I didn’t get it and was happy with what
I did have, but the desire for a HW-16 never quite faded from
my mind. Every once in a while, I would spot one at a ham-
fest. Some were in good shape and some were not. But every
time, I passed on the idea of getting one.
At the Uniontown (PA) Amateur Radio Club Hamfest this
past September, I saw another one. So did a very close
friend of mine — who should be my wife by the time you
read this. Perhaps it was something about the two-tone
green color scheme or its classic lines. Whatever it was,
she asked about it.
I told the story of wanting one many years ago and before
I knew it, we were standing in front of the tailgater’s table and
she was encouraging me to get it. Moreover, she ended up
buying it for me. So now, in addition to the Eico 720 I planned
to put on the air for SKN and NRR, I finally have that HW-16.
That radio, my first key and some of my Novice “rocks” will
put me on the air for these events and more in the coming
year. Don’t get me wrong. I thoroughly enjoy using the latest
technology and wouldn’t want to give up my state-of-the-art
gear. However, it’s nice to step back to basics and relive the
early days of my amateur radio experiences. Using such older
equipment may not actually make me a teenager again —
but at times — it makes me feel like one.
Give it a try for yourself.
December 2016 • CQ • 79
 4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL
communications horizons
BY ROB DE SANTOS, K8RKD
W
hen I look around, I see lots of radios right
here from my desk. Considering only tra-
ditional receivers and transceivers ac-
cessing the FM/AM/SW and ham bands, there are
at least a dozen. That’s only this room. There are
more around the house. Perhaps your home is the
same way. If I also look closely, I see devices that
— while not called a “radio” — use the electro-
magnetic spectrum in some way to provide various
parts of what radio has provided for a century now.
What if I visit the homes of family and friends
younger than I am? Unless they are communica-
tions hobbyists or have forsworn the communica-
tions and computer revolutions, you won’t find as
many radios as you would have even a few
decades ago. Moreover, that number is dropping.
Recent research by such companies as Edison
Research, Nielsen, and others points this up in a
painful way. In 2008, the average American home
had 2.9 radios. In 2016, that number had dropped
to 1.9. For those households headed up by some-
one under the age of 34, the average is 1.4 and of
those, a third do not own a radio at all (cars not
included, but we’ll get to that).
The implications for the radio industry and the
hobby are very significant. If the numbers are even
approximately correct and the trends continue, we
could be within 10 to 15 years of young people
reaching adulthood never having seen a conven-
tional radio anywhere but in a vehicle, where it is
buried in the entertainment console.
The Radio Hobby
As listeners, CQ readers are resourceful. We can
find the content we want in a multitude of different
ways and we are. We also can listen to a wide
gamut of the spectrum to find things of interest. As
* Twitter: @shuttleman58
80 • CQ • December 2016
hams, we are in a hobby where the nature of what
we do is more and more computer-dependent and
the transmitter and oscillator are becoming just
another computer chip.
The natural reasons a young person might be
exposed to what we do as hams aren’t as obvious
anymore. Youth are not sitting at home listening to
the wireless and twiddling a knob to discover some-
thing new. There may not even be a tabletop radio
to be found at home. As a hobby, we must come to
terms with this and promote the hobby in new ways.
The Radio Biz
This has not gone unnoticed in the radio industry.
At the recent National Association of Broadcasters
(NAB) 2016 Radio Show in Nashville and just prior,
at the RAIN internet radio conference, there was
considerable talk about these trends. Industry sta-
tistics suggest that overall hours of radio listening
(AM/FM) have yet to change significantly. They are
not growing as quickly as the population, nor are
they shrinking much, and the “edge of the cliff” is
still out there. Many will tell you that overall, it is
still a great business to be in and there is money
to be made. All of that is true. The canary is warm-
ing up, though, and the first notes suggest that it
is going to be rocky for a while.
Radio station numbers (except for AM) have never
been higher, with numerous new stations signing
on in the past several years. The expansion of low
power FMs (LPFM) and more FM translators means
that in many urban areas there is a signal every-
where on the dial. Those stations, which have
embraced new ways of reaching listeners using dig-
ital methods, are seeing the benefits.
Driving In My Car
The car remains the one place radios still seem to
have a home. However, as in-dash entertainment
Visit Our Web Site
systems continue to evolve, there is
erosion in the listening. For drivers of
older cars without newer options, radio
constitutes 85% or more of all in car lis-
tening (Edison Research, 2016 RAIN
conference). For newer vehicles, that
drops 70% or less. Some of that drop is
due to satellite radio, which is now in
nearly all new vehicles. As the years go
by, the erosion is likely to continue. As
recently as 2013, only 6% of cars on the
road had recent vintage in-dash enter-
tainment systems. This year, it is up to
12%. It’s speculation, but that number
could reach 50% in five years.
One roadblock slowing adoption is
that connecting your smartphone or
other device to in-dash systems can still
be a bit of an adventure. This is retard-
ing alternate sources to radio but it may
also be hurting conventional radio as it
suggests the newer systems are still too
hard to use for many. That will be fixed.
Too much is at stake for the car manu-
facturers for anything else to happen.
Generational differences also matter
here. For most CQ readers, the radio
interface we came to know and love
included a dial (linear or round) with an
indicator to tell you which frequency
was being tuned, along with one or more
knobs or buttons to adjust volume, tune
to another frequency, and other set-
+
+«ÕÃ
tings. This is not the interface those
under 18 are familiar with.
We are all conditioned by what we
learned to use when we were young.
That’s not surprising but the change
means that the traditional radio is
doomed from an interface standpoint. If
I have a “touch screen” that I am used
to using, I will expect that on my devices
at home and in the car, too. As the rear
camera requirement comes into force in
cars and every new car will be required
to have one (under the latest govern-
ment deadline, it is the 2019 model
year), then it is all but guaranteed that
touch screen and video interfaces will
come along with them. Even customers
who don’t want anything but an FM
radio will have a screen. Radio must
adapt.
Understanding is growing in the radio
business that it must engage with the
automakers, and with such companies
as Google and Apple, if radio is to
remain a prominent piece of the car
dashboard.
What’s Next?
If I was in the consumer radio manu-
manufacturing business, I wouldn’t be Edison, started the revolution in com-
doing it either. Yes, those of us who love munications and audio that changed
the feel of twisting a knob will still buy our grandparents’ lives. I don’t have a
traditional radios but demographically, way to see into the future but I can say
that market is shrinking and fast. without much hesitation it won’t look like
I have no intention of pleading for the today and or any past year. There
past here. I’m not giving up my smart- wasn’t a radio hobby before Marconi.
phone, laptop, wireless home sound Only a few inventors and researchers
system, satellite radio in the car, or any tinkering in labs. No hams. No SWLs.
of the other gadgets that depend on I’m optimistic though. Radio is going to
radio waves to work. I am not a fan of outlast me and probably most of you.
living in the past or pleading for a return We don’t know what will happen after
of the way things were “back in the day.” the radio era. What we do know is that
Sure, I have nostalgia but the world is humans love to communicate and voic-
moving on with or without me. I can’t es are the primary way we do that. This
stop trends in technology or society suggests that audio — in some form —
even when I think they are misdirected. will continue to be important and there
Rather, I want you, the CQ readers, to will hobbyists who use and experiment
understand what is happening so we with audio. Will they even call it radio?
can help keep the radio hobby alive. My I don’t know.
grandfather saw the radio age begin
and probably had nostalgia for the life Your Feedback
before “instant news” on the wireless As always, I am happy to receive your
from faraway places. He kept the radio, comments, suggestions, and ideas.
though. Feel free to reach out to me and share
With such pioneers as Marconi came what you are thinking. I’m always grate-
the radio era. It, along with some of the ful for anyone who reads the article and
inventions of others such as Thomas has pertinent comments to make.
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www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 81

 4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL
antennas
BY KENT BRITAIN*, WA5VJB
-,ÃÊ>`Ê
Ìi>ÊÌiÀÃ
T
his month, this is an antenna accessory col-
umn instead of the usual antenna column,
with a focus on filters. Many software defined
radios, or SDRs, are available these days — often
at very reasonable prices (see Photo A). Incredibly
versatile radios with many options of frequency,
bandwidth, and modulation, they even kind-of work
on those little whip antennas. But connect them to
a large antenna and many of them croak! The cul-
prit is too many signals coming into that antenna
and too little filtering to select the signals you want
and block those you don’t.
In Figure 1, we have a sweep up to 800 MHz of
my local RF environment. Note that one big spike
that is 20-dB higher than the rest. That is the FM
broadcast band, and in most urban areas, there is
more RF power in the FM broadcast band than all
other RF sources put together.
*1626 Vineyard, Grand Prairie, TX 75052
email: <wa5vjb@cq-amateur-radio.com>
Photo A. Little software defined radios (SDRs) are
incredibly versatile but often lack the ability to block
out strong local signals on frequencies far removed
from where you’re listening.
82 • CQ • December 2016
Recently, those $40 DTV converters were espe-
cially prone to overload from FM band signals. The
second harmonics of the FM band would take out
digital TV stations on broadcast channels 8, 9, 10,
11, and 12. Unfortunately for the consumer, the
harmonics were generated in the front end of the
cheap converters, not the FM stations themselves.
Several TV stations still using VHF Hi channels
gave away hundreds of FM band reject filters like
the one in Photo B so viewers could watch their
stations. These 88-108 MHz reject filters are a lot
harder to come by these days, but if you ever want
to connect your SDR to a large outside antenna,
keep an eye out for one of them. Go ahead and
use the F connectors, or with some minor surgery,
you can take them off and install your favorite RF
connector. Of course, if you can’t find one of these
filters, it’s pretty easy to build one.
FM Band Notch Filter
Figure 2 shows a simple notch filter centered on
the FM broadcast band. This can be built on a sep-
arate board, or in some cases, into the receiver
itself. Using a variable inductor or a variable capac-
itor allows you to tune the notch from near 50 MHz
to nearly 200 MHz. Putting your SDR into a spec-
trum analyzer mode allows you to tune the notch
right onto the strongest offending signal.
150-MHz High Pass Filter
In Figure 3, we have a simple high pass filter, start-
ing at about 150 MHz. Rejection of 2 meters is very
minor, but it takes a good hunk out of the FM broad-
cast band and is easy to build.
30-MHz Low Pass Filter
If your main interest is HF, the filter in Figure 4
takes out both the FM and TV bands and their high-
power transmitters. Of course, the good old Drake
Photo B. A commercial FM band reject filter will do
a great job of notching out strong FM broadcast
signals, but they’re getting to be hard to find.
Visit Our Web Site
 and Johnson low pass filters we used
to use trying to reduce TVI work well,
but they are getting harder and harder
to find.

40-MHz High Pass Filter

In Figure 5 is a high-pass filter that cuts
out signals below 40 MHz. This can be
very important if you live near a high-
power AM broadcaster or have several
high-power CBers in the neighborhood.
Again, these are getting harder to find
but connectorized versions of TV high-
pass filters will also work.

88- to 108-MHz Band Reject

Filter
The filter in Figure 6 is perhaps the most
complex to build, but really takes out the
entire FM broadcast band. I’d like to
thank Chuck Clark, AF8Z, for his help
designing one using common compo-
nents. It’s certainly easier to just use
one of the commercial FM band filters,
but the problem, as noted above, is find-
ing one. Besides, we’re hams. We’re
supposed to build stuff.

Figure 1. Off-air sweep to 800 MHz. Note the huge spike in the FM broadcast Construction
band. Vertical lines are spaces 80-MHz apart. Photo C shows two of the prototype fil-

Figure 2. FM band notch filter will block or attenuate near- Figure 4. 30-MHz low-pass filter is great for the HF opera-
by strong FM broadcast signals. tor, blocking both FM and TV broadcast signals.

Figure 3. This 150-MHz high-pass filter doesn’t have much Figure 5. This 40-MHz high-pass filter can be very handy for
impact on the 2-meter ham band but is very effective at the VHFer with lots of strong CB signals or an AM broadcast
blocking FM broadcast-band signals. transmitter nearby. It blocks out everything below 40 MHz.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 83

Photo C. Two prototype band-reject filters. The larger one is built “dead-bug” style while the smaller one uses surface
mount (SMT) components.

Figure 6. The FM-band reject filter is the most complex

circuit in our group this month, but is able to focus its notch- Photo D. 700-MHz to 26-GHz omnidirectional antenna.
ing directly on the FM broadcast band. These are designed for use with small SDRs.

ters. One is built “dead bug” style while the smaller one uses
surface mount components. Building the filters into shield-
ed boxes has several advantages, but even the dead bug
style will help filter out unwanted signals.
Again, putting your SDR into the spectrum-monitoring
mode is an excellent way of finding your QRM signal. If you
want to listen to it, then an attenuator is in order. Don’t want
to listen to it? Then you now have a family of filters to block
out that strong signal.
In September, I attended the GNU SDR conference in
Boulder, Colorado. It gave me a chance to show off my new
antenna aimed at these SDR radios. The antenna in Photo
D is a variation on the planar disk antennas and has a 1.5:1
or better SWR over its 700-MHz to 26-GHz bandwidth. How
about that for wideband?
Feedback
As always, we welcome your questions and topic sugges-
tions. Just drop a snail mail to my QRZ.COM address or an
email to <wa5vjb@cq-amateur-radio.com>. The column on
the secrets of fiberglass whips (October issue) got several
responses from people interested in a dual-band 10/6-meter
version. There are some real issues in getting all the traps
into a 4-foot whip. I’ve had no luck thus far but experiments
continue. For other antenna articles and projects, you are
welcome to visit <www.wa5vjb.com>.

84 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK

WRTH2017
We are very pleased to announce
the publication of the 2017 edition
S O M E C O M M E N T S O N W RT H 2 0 1 6

The WRTH continues to be the key source of infor-

of World Radio TV Handbook, the mation for a shortwave listener. I've been purchas-
bestselling directory of global ing my copies annually since the 1960s. Your publi-
broadcasting on LW, MW, SW & FM cation is a essential factor in enjoying shortwave lis-
tening, whether that be for station information or
The Features section for this 71st edition equipment reviews. Your efforts are very much
contains articles on Remote Receivers, A appreciated – William Matthews, USA
Pacific Radio Adventure, The Mighty KBC
Station, CKZN St Johns, and the International The WRTH is perfect. The yearly publication of this
Radio for Disaster Relief Project, as well as book is one of the biggest events in the DXing cal-
equipment reviews and other articles of inter- ender – Clint Gouveia, United Kingdom
est to radio amateurs and DXers.
The 70th is another great edition of the World Radio
The remaining pages are, as usual, full of TV Handbook. Though I use online frequency data-
information on: bases there is just no replacement for a good print-
ed frequency guide. Not only does WRTH contain
 National and International broadcasts and more in-depth information on broadcasters and
broadcasters by country with frequencies, schedules, but it makes for quick reference, and
powers, languages, contacts, and more, doesn’t require a computer or Internet connection–
including Clandestine and other target much like, well, your shortwave radio – Thomas
broadcasters Witherspoon, SWLing, USA
 MW frequency
listings by region. I would like to congratulate you for the outstanding
job regarding the content of the WRTH. I buy the
International and WRTH since 1973 – André De Block, Belgium
domestic SW fre-
quency listings, and WRTH is still an indispensable resource for the
DRM listings short wave listener or Industry professional – David
 International SW Harris, Radiouser, UK
broadcasts in
English, French, Best book to read about radio – Aaron Fawcett,
German, Portuguese USA
& Spanish.
I think WRTH is as good as it gets! I have collected
 Reference section all but three editions of the Handbook so am obvi-
with Transmitter ously a strong supporter – Bryan Clark, New
locations, DX clubs, Zealand
Internet Resources, and much more
Thanks for the splendid issues of WRTH; I have
bought the WRTH each year since 1969 – Robert
Available December 2016 Kipp, Germany
 /iÊ 
,,Ê1Ê
ÌiÃÌ
vhf plus
BY TONY EMANUELE,* WA8RJF
VHF Plus Calendar
Geminids Meteor Shower:
Quadrantids Meteor Shower:
ARRL VHF Sweepstakes:
DUBUS 144 & 432 MHz EME Contest:
DUBUS 2.3 GHz EME Contest:
I
n March of this year, in a surprise move, the ARRL
announced it was canceling its August UHF
Contest for 2016 while the League’s VHF Contest
Revitalization Committee considered alternatives.
In recent years, the number of submitted logs had,
for the most part, remained constant.
For those not familiar with the operating event, the
ARRL UHF Contest’s purpose was to encourage
activity on 222 MHz and above. To that end, point
values were assigned so that QSOs made on the
microwave bands had a higher value than those on
222 or 432 MHz. Multipliers equaled the number of
unique grids worked on a given band — pretty stan-
dard scoring for a VHF/UHF/microwave contest.
Almost as surprising as the announcement to can-
cel the UHF Contest was the ARRL’s announce-
ment in late September that the UHF Contest would
be reconstituted as the 222 MHz and Up Distance
Contest and was back on the ARRL contest calen-
dar for August 6 and 7, 2017. Two notable changes
included distance scoring and higher band QSO
points for the microwave and millimeter-wave bands
than the now-defunct UHF Contest1.
The cancellation of the UHF Contest did result in
a healthy, vibrant, and, at times, heated discussion
of what needed to change and what needed to
c/o CQ magazine
e-mail: <wa8rjf@cq-amateur-radio.com>
86 • CQ • December 2016
December 13th/14th predicted peak
January 3rd/4th predicted peak
January 21st – 23rd
February 11th & 12th
March 11th & 12th
remain the same. Time will tell whether the changes
reflected in the new 222 MHz and Up Distance
Contest will have a measurable impact on partici-
pation. It is likely that some tweaks to the rules will
be necessary but it is in our best interest to give it
a chance and get on the bands next August.
Having a Contest Anyway
Soon after the League announced it was canceling
the UHF Contest, veteran VHFer Wayne Overbeck,
N6NB, floated that idea that the 39th running of UHF
Contest should take place on the traditional first
weekend in August, under independent sponsor-
ship. The idea soon gained nationwide support from
the VHF community. With the leaders of several
major VHF/UHF/microwave clubs, including the Mt.
Airy VHF Radio Club, the Northern Lights Radio
Society, and the Pacific Northwest VHF Society tak-
ing up the banner, the contest was on again for the
original scheduled weekend in August 2016, of
course sans ARRL backing. John Kalenowsky,
K9JK, agreed to act as contest manager.
The efforts promoting the 39th UHF Contest paid
off with 188 logs submitted, the most since 2010.
The winners’ list includes many familiar calls.
Dave Petke, K1RZ, had the top single operator high
power entry with 171,216 points (250 Qs x 123 mul-
tipliers - bands CD9EFGHI)2. Bob Striegl, K2DRH,
had the #1 single operator low-power score with
Plaques and club gavels
awarded for the 39th UHF
Contest, the first (and perhaps
only) running under
independent (non-ARRL)
sponsorship. (Photo by and
courtesy of N6NB)
Visit Our Web Site
 $10.95
plus ship
ping

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15 months of value January 2017 through March 2018
Fifteen spectacular color images of some of the biggest, most photogenic shacks and antennas from across
the country and... ALSO THIS YEAR... a number of favorite shots from #1 magazine thrown in for good measure!

Calendars include dates of important Ham Radio events, major contests and other operating events, meteor
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89,991 points (174 Qs x 101 multipliers - bands CDE9EFG).
Both Dave and Bob won plaques donated by Cliff Sojourner,
K6CLS (see photo).
The K2LIM team had the top multi-operator score with
77,283 points (164 Qs x 93 multipliers - bands CD9EFGIP).
Kent and his group will receive a plaque given in memory of
Bill Smith, WØWOI, the former QST World Above 50 MHz
Editor and longtime supporter of the UHF Contest. Bill had
offered to sponsor a plaque for the contest, but his untimely
death in June prevented that from happening. The plaque for
the #1 multi-operator station is dedicated in his memory.
The top rover score and top overall score was posted by
N6NB/R with 278,418 points (346 Qs x 98 multipliers - bands
CD9EFGHIJ) winning the Rob Hughes, KG6TOA, Memorial
Plaque for the highest rover score. Like many others, Wayne
had urged friends to get on and turn in logs. It worked as, in
the end, enough of them did so to give the Southern California
Contest Club the gavel for the highest medium club score
(753,882 points). The other club gavel, for the club that sub-
mitted the most logs, was earned by the Pacific Northwest
VHF Society with 25 logs submitted, barely edging out the
Northern Lights Radio Society with 19 logs and the Mt. Airy
Packrats, with 15 logs. The Southern California Contest Club
members submitted 13 logs, while Northeast Weak Signal
Group members submitted 11 logs. Meanwhile, the gavel for
the high-scoring local club was earned by the Ventura County
ARS with three logs and 1,683 points. The ARRL criteria were
used to define local versus medium club.
The plaque for the #1 limited rover score was awarded to
Darryl Holman, WW7D/R, with 17,208 points (189 Qs, 24
multipliers - bands CD9E). The plaque for the top unlimited
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
rover score was awarded to Gary Danelius, WBØLJC/R with
7,854 points (58 Qs x 17 multipliers - bands DFIJ.)
The Northern Lights Radio Society (NLRS) gives two
awards for the highest and second highest scores by Rovers
using three or fewer bands (with no restriction on which
bands). The awards for 2016 were claimed by Wyatt Dirks,
ACØRA with the highest score ever recorded by any winner
of that award — Wyatt had 34,650 points on bands CDI; and
Andrea Slack, K2EZ, with 8,316 points on bands CD. The
two awards will be presented at the NLRS Aurora Conference
next April.
Logs submitted by category were: SOLP3 – 101; SOHP –
42; multi-operator – 5; rover – 26; limited rover – 11; and
unlimited rover – 3. Of the 188 logs received, 20 had 100 or
more QSOs (8 of those with 200 or more QSOs), 109 had
between 10 and 99 Qs and 59 had single-digit QSO counts.
The full results and tabular scores are online at <www.
UHFcontest.org>. A complete top-ten list for all categories is
also posted on the CQ website, along with the full listing of
club scores. (Go to the December issue highlights page on
<www.cq-amateur-radio.com>, then follow the link at the end
of the highlights text.)
– Happy Holidays & 73, Tony, WA8RJF
Notes:
1. See ARRL website for full contest rules at:
<http://www.arrl.org/222-mhz-and-up-distance-contest>
2. Band designators are as follows: C = 222 MHz, D= 432
MHz, 9 = 900 MHz, E = 1296 MHz, etc.
3. SOLP = Single Op Low Power, SOHP = Single Op High
Power.
December 2016 • CQ • 87
 1ÃivÕÊ-«ÌÌ}Ê iÌÜÀÃÊvÀÊÌi
BY TED MELINOSKY,* K1BV
awards
Ü>À`ÃÊÕÌiÀ
Plus World Wide Flora and Fauna Awards
T
rying to earn awards is a tough endeavor.
Relentlessly turning dials and listening to the
faint static that hopefully turns into that last
contact you need for your certificate is challenging
but worth the effort. However, sometimes life throws
us curveballs and we can’t sit at the radio for hours
everyday to snag that last elusive callsign.
Thankfully, there are internet sites that can help you
along your journey by providing useful information
to more efficiently spend your radio time making
progress toward your goal. Here are a few of them
you might want to try:
Awards DX Cluster by R7AB <adxcluster.com>:
This is an English-language website providing
details on stations that can be used for a limited
number of awards, including: CQ’s USA-CA coun-
ty award, the Russian District Award (RDA), Worked
All Serbia (WASerbia), the Ukraine District Award
(URDA), and the Russian Airfield Award (RAFA).
The site shows the time, frequency, callsign, award
abbreviation, and source of information. You can
create an account, which will give you a way to keep
track of all your stations worked and confirmed.
SOTAwatch2 <http://sotawatch.org/spots.php>:
The Summits On The Air Award (SOTA) is sort of
like county hunters, except that that activators don’t
use cars to get to their targets. They walk up moun-
tains (at least part way), mostly carrying low-power
transceivers and small antennas to activate moun-
taintops. Activators usually have a very limited
amount of time in which to make contacts, so a spot-
ting network really helps them out. The website pro-
vides callsign, designation of the mountain name,
band, and mode. Lots of activity to give you the clues
to work them for SOTA awards.
DXFUN Web Cluster <http://bit.ly/2dVyOm8>:
This is a Spanish website, which gives a choice of
language, including English. In my opinion, it pro-
vides the best search facility for showing which sta-
tions are on the air that provide awards credit. From
their homepage, you (1) choose English, choose
Advanced Search, click on “Comments,” enter the
word AWARD or DIPLOMA, click on All Band and
click on Search Spot. Very useful, especially when
you are trying to complete popular awards.
There is no charge for using any of these web-
sites, but most will accept donations if you want to
help them with their costs.
World Wide Fauna and Flora Awards
(WWFF)
The WWFF program is one of the largest and most
famous ham radio groups that issues awards to
draw attention to the importance of protecting
nature, flora, and fauna. In this spirit, amateur radio
*12 Wells Woods Rd., Columbia, CT 06237
e-mail: <k1bv12@charter.net
88 • CQ • December 2016
USA-CA Honor Roll
500 1000
K1USA . . . . . . . . . 3714 I8QJU . . . . . . . . . . 1885
I8QJU . . . . . . . . . . 3713
DJ3GE . . . . . . . . . 3712
The total number of counties for credit for the United States of America
Counties Award is 3077. The basic award fee for subscribers is $6.00.
For nonsubscribers it is $12.00. To qualify for the special subscriber
rate, please send a recent CQ mailing label with your application. Initial
application may be submitted by a PC-printed computer listing which
is in alphabetical order by state and county within the state. To be eli-
gible for the USA-CA Award, applicants must comply with the rules of
the program as set forth in the revised USA-CA Rules and Program
dated June 1, 2000. A complete copy of the rules may be obtained by
sending an SASE to Ted Melinosky, K1BV, 12 Wells Woods Road,
Columbia, CT 06237 USA. DX stations must include extra postage
for airmail reply.
operators set up and operate their stations from
designated nature parks and protected nature
areas — generating attention for these areas whilst
giving the ham radio community an interesting activ-
ity to contact. WWFF is an international and non-
commercial program run by the coordinators of a
large number of national flora and fauna programs.
The WWFF program is run by the chairman and
vice chairman, who are elected by the national coor-
dinators of the member countries (the WWFF coun-
cil), assisted by others who take on specific tasks. All
are unpaid volunteers. The current chairman is Luk,
ON4BB, and the vice-chairman is Max, IK1GPG. The
group’s web-site is: <http://www.wwff.co/>.
While researching this month’s column, I hap-
pened to notice that the WWFF website was cele-
brating the on-the-air activation of the 12,000th dif-
ferent WWFF park/nature preserve. I’m sure they
have moved passed that by now.
How to Apply for a WWFF Award
The World Wide Flora & Fauna program offers two
classes of awards: (1) those which are offered by
member countries of the organization and (2) those
which are developed and administered by the
WWFF organization itself, which is headquartered
in England, but whose staff live in a number of coun-
tries, principally in Europe.
The goal of the WWFF program is to publicize and
protect nature parks and wildlife preserves through-
out the world. A majority of the awards are issued
by the member countries, but they all follow the
guidelines set by the parent WWFF organization.
The awards described in this article have been
developed by the parent organization and use the
combined contacts made by all of their member
countries.
The award certificates are all available in elec-
tronic format (.pdf or .jpg) and are free of charge.
All awards are based on QSO information com-
prising the WWFF LogSearch database, which is
maintained on the website: <http://wwff.co/>.
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For 50 years
If you confirm 44 different World Wide
Flora and Fauna (WWFF) locations
our volunteers have
throughout the world, the WWFF will
send you this award to mark your
endured long hours
achievement.
and tough
working conditions
for no pay.

Contacting seven different locations

per continent will get you the WWFF
DXCC per continent award.

And 9 out of 10
would do it again.
TO FIND OUT WHY
contact
REACT International, Inc.
(301) 316-2900 • (866) REACT-9-9
P.O. Box 21064, Glendale, CA 91221
REACT.HQ@REACTintl.org
As part of the WWFF Continents
Award, this is the certificate for Europe. www.REACTintl.org
www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 89

When you earn the WWFF Continents
Award, this certificate featuring a bald
eagle will be sent to you free of charge.
The WWFF organization cannot ac-
cept other sources of information such
as paper QSLs, LoTW or eQSL.
Awards may be claimed in three
categories:
1. Activators (references, DXCC,
continents)
90 • CQ • December 2016
2. Hunters (references, DXCC per
continent, continents)
3. SWL hunters (references)
A. WWFF References
Work activators from different WWFF
locations all over the world. Confirm a
minimum of 44 different WWFF refer-
ences in the WWFF global database. For
active chasers, endorsements are
offered for each additional 44 confirmed
references up to 444, and endorsements
higher than that for each additional 100.
B. Work DXCC Per Continent
Work and confirm contacts with WWFF
activators in at least seven (7) different
DX entities on each continent from the
WWFF global database, WWFF Log
Search.
The available continents are Africa,
Asia, Europe, North America and
Oceania.
(As of press time, South America and
Antarctica are missing)
C. WWFF Continents (ACFF)
Have at least one contact with WWFF
activators on all seven (7) continents
using the WWFF global database.
All of these certificates may be re-
quested only via the WWFF LogSearch:
<http://wwff.co>. To apply for an award,
you must first register as a user. Note that
you can only apply for an award for your
own callsign. Once registered, type in
your callsign and hit the search button.
You will be presented with the results of
your activity as hunter and/or activator for
all the contacts you have ever made with
activators who reported the data. If you
qualify for an award you can click on the
award application button “Apply for
WWFF-H” (for the hunter award) or
“Apply for WWFF-A” (for the activator
award).
Note that the WWFF cannot accept any
other QSO sources than the WWFF
LogSearch (such QSLs, LoTW, eQSL)
for award application. The awards are all
provided as digital image files, for free.
When I followed these instructions, it
was amazing to see how many contacts
I had made with “activators” over the
past six to seven years. Their activa-
tors are very good about sending in data
to help you with these awards. Note that
some of the countries that offer WWFF-
type certificates and are associated with
this main group will require payment for
their country awards. Most are modest
and worth the cost.
Let us know of any new certificates or
award programs that might be used
in future columns. A URL (internet
address) is all we need to start the
process.
Visit Our Web Site

COMMENTARY

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Examining the Numbers, and Hypothesizing the
Intentions of the ARRL
L
et me start by stating that I am a strong advo-
cate of the American Radio Relay League
(ARRL). In the distant past, I was an Official
Relay Station and a Route Manager in the National
Traffic System (NTS). I cut my “CW contest” teeth
in the old CD Parties (on-air quarterly contests for
members of the ARRL Communications Depart-
ment). Then sometime in the 1980s, I became an
Assistant Section Manager in the Southern New
Jersey (SNJ) ARRL section. I continue in that role
today. Also, I am a Life Member of the ARRL and
recently received my 50-year membership pin.
The ARRL is the most important amateur radio
organization in the U.S., and arguably in the entire
world, by promoting and validating the existence
of amateur radio. As such, I strongly support mem-
bership in the ARRL.
Now, this does not mean that I necessarily sup-
port everything that the ARRL does. And some-
times I dislike the way important issues are decid-
ed, especially when membership input on such
decisions is not sought. It always seems to be
“here’s what we did,” and it’s done. Input given in
reaction to these decisions often seems to go
unheard, or sometimes just explained away with
excuses. One example of this is the ARRL’s recent
announcement of a large increase in fees for using
its Outgoing QSL Service (see sidebar on p. 96).
The first thing I noticed is that the announcement
from the ARRL seemed to be a bit diversionary. In
the new rate announcement portion, to explain the
new rate they used an example of 1.5 pounds of
cards. But in the old rate portion of the page, they
used an example of 1 pound of cards, which makes
comparing a bit confusing. So, let’s look at it using
the same example of 1 pound of cards (approxi-
mately 150 cards). Under the old rate of $.80/ounce,
1 pound of cards cost $12.80 with no service fee.
Under the new rate of $1.15/ounce, 1 pound of
cards will cost $18.40 plus a $7.00 service fee for
a grand total of $25.40. So, 1 pound of cards sent
via the ARRL outgoing bureau starting on No-
vember 1st, 2016 will cost you DOUBLE the old rate,
a 100% increase. These are the facts. Let’s go to
a 10-pound batch and research the numbers. Under
the old rate of $.80/ounce ($12.80/pound), 10
pounds would cost you $128.00. Under the new rate
of $1.15/ounce ($18.40/pound) 10 pounds would
* <n2oo@comcast.net>
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
dx
BY BOB SCHENCK, N2OO
cost you $184.00 plus the $7.00 service fee for a
total of $191.00, a 50% increase. As you can see,
the percentage increase is smaller as you increase
the weight. But the bottom line is that the rate itself,
without adding in the $7.00 service fee, is increas-
ing $.35/per ounce or 30% ($.80/ounce to
$1.15/ounce).
It’s the service fee that really seems to affect the
increase the most, especially for those who only
need to send small numbers of cards at a time.
Let’s look at an example of someone who wants
to send about 30 cards (3.5 ounces) to the ARRL
Outgoing QSL Bureau. Under the old rate, 3.5
ounces of cards would cost you a total of $3.00
(the old minimum). Under the new rate, 3.5 ounces
of cards would cost you $1.15/ounce ($4.60) plus
a $7.00 service fee. Total will be $11.60. This is
about a 250% increase!
I sent my opinion to ARRL HQ and to my SNJ
Section Manager, who also passed it along; but as
of press time, I had not heard anything back.
However, one of my fellow South Jersey DX
Association (SJDXA) members did get a re-
sponse. Here’s what he was told:
The price increase is due to not all members using
the ARRL Outgoing Bureau, and it not being a prof-
it-generating department. They are now factoring
in the salary of the staffer, quarterly private ship-
ping costs which run about $4,000, and the vol-
unteer Incoming Bureau expense budget, so peo-
ple may receive their cards. They would prefer
people send in a larger bundle of cards than 10 to
20 at a time.
I am sure that this response was just a quickly
written explanation that is probably being copied
and pasted to the many complaints that they must
be getting. I don’t consider it to be complete at all.
First of all, to explain the “cost” of their quarterly
private shipping of about $4,000 without stating
any incoming fees collected leaves this explana-
tion inadequate. Perhaps buried in board minutes,
these details could probably be mined. But it would
be hard for me to believe that they do not collect
most if not all of the shipping costs with their old
fee structure. I hope they will detail this more in the
future. (It is also noteworthy that the cost increase
is justified on the basis of U.S. postal rates for inter-
national mail; yet this suggests that U.S. Postal
Service is not used. – ed.)
December 2016 • CQ • 91
 Another thing left out is the salary of
The WAZ Program CQ DX Awards Program the staffer. And let’s take it a little fur-
ther, just what is the “Incoming Bureau”
ALL BAND WAZ SSB Endorsments
expense budget? It’s my understanding
Mixed NA3V ....................1162 W4ABW ................1163 that the incoming bureaus collect funds
separately. Or does ARRL subsidize
9324
9325
......................RN3RQ
.....................E73FTU
9328 ......................UN7QE
9329 ....................UA3DUJ
CW Endorsements their operations somehow? Let me
9326 ....................OH1LAR 9330 .......................F8BBL JA7XBG ..................334
make this clear again. I fully understand
9327 .........................K3PA

SSB
SSB Endorsements 5 Band WAZ
HB9DQD .................334 JA7XBG ..................339
5350 ........................OG7M 5351..................... JA2CQD As of September 20, 2016
1941stations have attained at least the 150 zone level, and
RTTY Endorsements 952 stations have attained the 200 Zone level.
SINGLE BAND WAZ
JA7XBG ..................203 As of September 1, 2016
The top contenders for 5 Band WAZ (zones needed on
17 CW 80 or other if indicated):
CHANGES shown in BOLD
114 .........................DM5EE The basic award fee for subscribers to CQ is $6. For non-
subscribers, it is $12. In order to qualify for the reduced
30 CW subscriber rate, please enclose your latest CQ mailing Callsign Zones Zones Callsign Zones Zones
label with your application. Endorsement stickers are Needed Needed
141 .........................DM5EE $1.00 each plus SASE. Updates not involving the is- EA7GF 199 1 W6DN 199 17
suance of a sticker are free. All updates and correspon- H44MS 199 34 W9XY 199 22
dence must include an SASE. Rules and application HA5AGS 199 1 9A5I 198 1, 16
160 Meter forms for the CQ DX Awards may be found on the I5REA 199 31 AK8A 198 17, 22
<www.cq-amateur-radio.com> website, or may be IK1AOD 199 1 DM2EE 198 1,31
479 .........DM5EE, 30 Zones obtained by sending a business-size, self-addressed, IK8BQE 199 31 EA5BCX 198 27, 39
stamped envelope to CQ DX Awards Manager, Please IZ3ZNR 199 1 F5NBU 198 19, 31
JA1CMD 199 2 G3KDG 198 1, 12
160 Meter Updates make checks payable to the Award Manager, Keith
JA5IU 199 2 G3KMQ 198 1, 27
Gilbertson. Mail all updates to Keith Gilbertson, KØKG,
21688 Sandy Beach Lane, Rochert, MN 56578-9604 JA7XBG 199 2 IK0FVC 198 1, 31
AG9S, 40 Zones JH7CFX 199 2 JA1DM 198 2, 40
USA. We recognize 340 active countries. Please make
all checks payable to the award manager. Photocopies JK1BSM 199 2 JA3GN 198 2 on 80 & 40
of documentation issued by recognized national K1LI 199 24 K2EP 198 23, 24
Rules and applications for the WAZ program may be ob-
Amateur Radio associations that sponsor international K3JGJ 199 24 K2TK 198 23, 24
tained by sending a large SAE with two units of postage
awards may be acceptable for CQ DX award credit in K7UR 199 34 K3JGJ 198 24, 26
or an address label and $1.00 to: WAZ Award Manager,
lieu of having QSL cards checked. Documentation must K8PT 199 26 K4HB 198 24, 26
John Bergman, KC5LK, 125 Deer Trail, Brandon, MS KZ4V 199 26 K4JLD 198 18, 24
39042-9409. The processing fee for all CQ awards is list (itemize) countries that have been credited to an
N3UN 199 18 K6FG 198 17, 18
$6.00 for subscribers (please include your most recent applicant. Screen printouts from eQSL.cc that list coun-
N4NX 199 26 KB0EO 198 22, 23
CQ mailing label or a copy) and $12.00 for nonsub- tries confirmed through their system are also acceptable.
N4WW 199 26 KZ2I 198 24, 26
scribers. Please make all checks payable to John Screen printouts listing countries credited to an appli-
N4XR 199 27 N2QT 198 23, 24
Bergman. Applicants sending QSL cards to a CQ check- cant through an electronic logging system offered by a N8AA 199 23 N4GG 198 18, 24
point or the Award Manager must include return postage. national Amateur Radio organization also may be RA6AX 199 6 on 10M N8LJ 198 17, 24
KC5LK may also be reached via e-mail: <kc5lk@cq- acceptable. Contact the CQ DX Award Manager for spe- RU3DX 199 6 NS6C 198 17, 22
amateur-radio.com>. cific details. RW0LT 199 2 on 40M OK1DWC 198 6, 31
RX4HZ 199 13 UA4LY 198 6 & 2 on 10
RZ3EC 199 1 on 40M US7MM 198 2, 6
S58Q 199 31 VE2TZT 198 23, 24
SM7BIP 199 31 W4UM 198 18, 23

The WPX Program

VO1FB 199 19 W5CWQ 198 17, 18
W1FJ 199 24 W6OUL 198 37, 40
W1FZ 199 26 W9RN 198 26, 19 on 40
CW K7THM, K4VD, 2MØRRT. 550 KM4CQG, AK9B. 600 KI6RRD. 650 W2LK 199 23 WA2BCK 198 23, 24
KJ4KVC. 700 KØEOO, CT1FUH. 800 ES3VI, PY2ALC. 900 DK9GTB, W3NO 199 26 WC5N 198 22, 26
3764 . . . . . . . . . . . . W6AER 3766 . . . . . . . . . . . . CT1FUH IW2FND. 1100 W1FNB, AE4WG. 1150 W6AER, WA9PIE. 1300 IZØ- W4DC 199 24 WL7E 198 34, 37
3765 . . . . . . . . . . . . KØEOO FUW. 1350 N6PEQ. 1900 HB9DHG. 3350 AB1J. 3950 W9OO W4LI 199 26 ZL2AL 198 36, 37

SSB Digital: 350 CT1FUH, VK2RT. 400 N4JJS, WR7X, ES3VI, K4VD,
AK9B. 450 KM4CQG, RMØF, DO9ZY. 500 DL9GTB. 550 PY2ALC. 600 New recipients of 5 Band WAZ with all 200 Zones
3937............................W8TFI 3943 ..........................KØEOO W1FNB. 650 W6AER. 1050 HB9DHG confirmed:
3938.........................HB9FPR 3944 .........................CT1FUH None
3939.........................W1WRA 3945 .........................KJ4KVC 160 Meters: HB9DHG
3940 ............................W7TG 3946 .........................PY2ALC 80 Meters: DL9GTB, HB9DHG, WA9PIE New updates to the 5BWAZ list of stations:
3941.........................YV5GPA 3947 .........................KI6RRD 40 Meters: W6AER, DL9GTB, K4VD
3942 ........................KCØBRA 20 Meters: DL9GTB, WU1V, KM4CQG, RA3TOS, ES3VI, K4VD, IK5ZUK, 162 Zones W1EBI, 190 Zones
HB9DHG, 2MØRRT, KI6RRD, VK2RT
15 Meters: W6AER, DL9GTB, PU4ENY, WA9PIE
Mixed 10 Meters: HB9DHG, WA9PIE The following have qualified for the basic 5 Band
WAZ Award:
3293 ...........................N4JJS 3300........................KCØBRA Africa: HB9DHG, WA9PIE, N4MM
3294 ..........................OH8JK 3301 ........................CT1FUH Asia: DL9GTB, HB9DHG, VK2RT 1938 4L1MA, 195 Zones 1940 K4PX, 170 Zones
3295 ........................DL9FCR 3302.........................KJ4KVC Europe: W1WRA, KM4CQG, RA3TOS, K4VD, KCØBRA, SN6P, 1939 DM5EE, 198 Zones 1941 K3PA, 181 Zones
3296..........................K7THM 3303 ...........................N4YCI CT1FUH, PY2ALC, KK5ID, WA9PIE. VK2RT
3297 ........................YV5GPA 3304.........................KI6RRD Oceania: HB9DHG, WA9PIE, VK2RT, KH6SAT
3298 ........................RA3TOS 3305.............................AK9B North America: N6PEQ, DL9GTB, N4JJS, WU1V, KM4CQG, K7THM, *Please note: Cost of the 5 Band WAZ Plaque is $100
3299 ............................K4VD YV5GPA, K4VD, KCØBRA, KØEOO, HB9DHG, N3JG, PY2ALC, N4YCI, shipped within the U.S.; $120 all foreign (sent airmail).
WA9PIE, KI6RRD
Digital South America: W6AER, HB9DHG, PY2ALC
Rules and applications for the WAZ program may be ob-
558 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K4VD 562 . . . . . . . . . . . . CT1FUH Award of Excellence with 160 Bar: HA9PP, HB9DHG tained by sending a large SAE with two units of postage
559 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SN6P 563 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N3JG 30M Bar: HA9PP or an address label and $1.00 to: WAZ Award Manager,
560. . . . . . . . . . . . . . RMØF 564 . . . . . . . . . . . . . DO9ZY Digital Bar: HA9PP, HB9DHG John Bergman, KC5LK, 125 Deer Trail, Brandon, MS
561 . . . . . . . . . . . . PU4ENY 565 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AK9B 39042-9409. The processing fee for the 5BWAZ award is
Complete rules and application forms may be obtained by sending a $10.00 for subscribers (please include your most recent
CW: 350 CT1FUH. 400 KØEOO. 450 JF2MVI, WU1V. 500 DL9GTB. business-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope (foreign stations CQ mailing label or a copy) and $15.00 for nonsubscribers.
550 ES3VI. 700 N6PEQ. WA9PIE. 1550 HB9DHT. 3050 W9OO. 7300 send extra postage for airmail) to "CQ WPX Awards," P.O. Box 355, An endorsement fee of $2.00 for subscribers and $5.00
WA2HZR New Carlisle, OH 45344 USA. Note: WPX will now accept prefix- for nonsubscribers is charged for each additional 10 zones
es/calls which have been confirmed by eQSL.cc. and the ARRL confirmed. Please make all checks payable to John
SSB: 350 N4YCI. 400 N4YCI. 450 YV5GPA, KI6RRD. 550 KJ4KVC. Logbook of The World (LoTW). Bergman. Applicants sending QSL cards to a CQ check-
650 W6AER, HB9DHG. 700 WA9PIE. 1100 IZØFUW. 2200 AA1VX. point or the Award Manager must include return postage.
2950 W9OO *Please Note: The price of the 160, 30, 17, 12, 6, and Digital bars for KC5LK may also be reached via e-mail: <kc5lk@cq-
the Award of Excellence are $6.50 each. amateur-radio.com>.
Mixed: 450 YV5GPA, KCØBRA, WA3QWA, VK2RT. 500 OH8JK,

92 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

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that running an outgoing QSL bureau is not especially cheap.
My problem is that to me as a LIFE Member of the ARRL, I
consider it a “membership benefit.”
The Outgoing QSL Bureau service was started in Novem-
ber 1976. It was created to enhance the already in place
“Incoming QSL Bureaus” by providing a way to send QSL
cards overseas economically. It was only logical to provide
an outgoing QSL service to complete the ability to “exchange”
QSLs both in and out via the bureau systems worldwide with-
out having to manually mail cards to each individual world-
wide incoming QSL bureau. It was always understood that it
would be slow, which was always considered a fair tradeoff.
Since that time, tens of millions of QSL cards have been han-
dled by the outgoing QSL bureau.
The next issue I have is the reasoning that not all ARRL
members use the ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau and as such,
it is not a profit-generating department. I beg to argue that if
this was the sole reason for doubling the fees to use the
bureau, then what about all of the other ARRL “membership
benefits” and “departments” that could also be described as
being the same thing? Should ARRL start to charge people
for its Technical Information Service (TIS), which is current-
ly a free service (paid for by member dues)? I doubt if many
ARRL members use this service. Should it remain as a free
service? Of course it should!
Should the ARRL stop issuing awards programs like DXCC,
WAS, etc? Not everybody uses the various awards programs
after all. But they charge for the awards, correct? Does the
ARRL profit on the awards program fees? I do not know. I do
not care. But if there is a profit, should it help offset the
Outgoing QSL Bureau if needed? The ARRL needs to be
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there to PROMOTE all aspects of this great hobby of ours,
and this includes the exchange of QSL cards.
The new argument is “what about LoTW (Logbook of the
World)?” The ARRL created LoTW to make it easier to apply
for awards. It was not intended to replace paper QSL cards.
As such, LoTW can be used for DXCC, WAS, VUCC, and
CQ WPX awards. It has not been set up for use by any other
award programs. Although these four award programs are
popular, you will still need to get a paper QSL in order to sub-
mit for many other awards. Oh, and if the station you worked
does not use LoTW, you will still need to get their paper QSL
to submit for your otherwise LoTW-supported awards
(DXCC, WAS, VUCC, WPX). So, LoTW should never be an
excuse for not providing a paper QSL.
Plus, there are still a large number of hams who do not use
LoTW. I personally love LoTW! It saves me an enormous
amount of paperwork with regards to my paper QSLs. But
the other side of me LOVES paper QSL cards. I have albums,
and plenty of file drawers full of them. They mean a lot to me.
What I have found through my QSL manager work is that
there is still a huge number of hams who just like collecting
the cards, regardless of the award programs. Many don’t
even care about DXCC! They just want to hang them on a
wall, or put them in an album. And it is also worth noting that
these new fees hurt the little guy the most. Sending 10 cards
will now cost $8.15. The new fee structure could have a dev-
astating effect on the “new guys” trying to get involved and
interested in the “on the air” excitement of swapping and col-
lecting QSL cards from around the world. In my honest opin-
ion, the ARRL needs to find new and innovative ways to
enhance our hobby, not find ways to turn people off.
December 2016 • CQ • 93
My Suggestions
Since the explanation for the new fees that was passed along
to me explains that one reason for the hike was to pay a staffer,
I suggested a way for the ARRL to reduce the labor involved
by offering a BULK outgoing QSL service rate to high-work-
load QSL managers and ARRL affiliated clubs, which could
collect cards from members, pre-sort the cards, and send them
in bulk to the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service. Give these QSL
managers and affiliated clubs a discounted “reasonable” set
of rates at 10-pound levels (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 pounds, reduc-
ing the rate at each level). Give careful instructions and let
them do their own sorting. Let them wrap batches appropri-
ately by country in rubber bands and properly label each batch.
When these batches arrive at ARRL HQ, it would be a very
simple task for the outgoing bureau staff to open the box and
place the bundles in their appropriate outgoing packages
heading to the assorted world QSL bureaus. Minimal labor
involved for the large quantities received.
Who benefits? The ARRL will benefit by reducing the
staffer’s workload. The ARRL affiliated club would benefit by
offering a special outgoing bureau rate benefit to its mem-
bership, thus encouraging more people to potentially join the
club, and further enhance ARRL membership. The little guy
would benefit by being able to have his ARRL affiliated club
merge his small batch of cards into their overall club batch-
es at a significant savings. The ARRL affiliated club could
continue to add to the box until reaching a specific weight
level appropriate to the club’s QSL participation. Depending
on the club’s financial situation, it could choose to have the
club treasury cover all of the related expenses, or if this would
not be practical, maybe charge the club members the lower
club bulk rate for their QSLs. In any case, this is my sug-
gestion. I’m open to ideas. But for sure, I really do NOT like
the new ARRL Outgoing QSL Service rate schedule. In my
honest opinion, it is unfair, and unwarranted. I am especial-
ly disheartened by the new “$7 service fee.” I do hope that
sensibility prevails and that our friends at the ARRL will con-
sider other alternatives that are friendlier to the continued
promotion of QSL card exchanging. I consider my criticism
to be only positive in nature.
As I said at the beginning of this month’s column, I am a
fervent supporter of the ARRL. Do not think that I am not.
Luckily, it is set up as a democratic organization. You have
elected representatives you can contact in order to voice your
opinion on anything that the ARRL does. If you feel as strong-
ly as I do about these new rates, I remind you that you should

CQ DX Honor Roll
The CQ DX Honor Roll recognizes those DXers who have submitted proof of confirmation with 275 or more ACTIVE countries. With few exceptions, the ARRL
DXCC Countries List is used as the country standard. The CQ DX Award currently recognizes 340 countries. Honor Roll listing is automatic when an application
is received and approved for 275 or more active countries. Deleted countries do not count and all totals are adjusted as deletions occur. To remain on the CQ DX
Honor Roll, annual updates are required. All updates must be accompanied by an SASE if confirmation of total is required. The fee for endorsement stickers is
$1.00 each plus SASE. (Stickers for the 340 level and Honor Roll are available.) Please make checks payable to the Award Manager, Keith Gilbertson. Mail all
updates to Keith Gilbertson, KØKG, 21688 Sandy Beach Lane, Rochert, MN 56578-9604 USA.

CW
OH2BN .........340 K4MQG ........338 W4OEL.........338 K8SIX...........338 W6OUL ........335 KØKG ...........331 KA3S ............324 RA1AOB .......313 WA2VQV ......290
K4IQJ ...........339 K5RT ............338 W5BOS ........338 N4CH............338 JA7XBG........334 K6LEB ..........330 N7W0...........323 WA4DOU......312 K7CU............282
K9MM ..........339 N4AH............338 W7CNL.........338 N4NX............338 F6HMJ..........333 N7WO ..........330 YT1VM .........322 YO9HP .........312 PP7LL .........282
WS9V...........339 N4JF.............338 W7OM..........338 YU1AB..........338 K1FK ............333 WD9DZV ......330 4Z5SG ..........321 N3RC............307 N2VW...........280
DL3DXX .......338 N4MM ..........338 W8XD...........338 K8LJG ..........337 K9OW ..........333 K6YK ............328 ON4CAS .......321 W4ABW........306 K4EQ ............280
EA2IA ...........338 N5FG ............338 WB4UBD ......338 KA7T ............337 PY2YP..........333 W9IL ............328 HB9DAX/ KT2C ........... 305 WB5STV.......277
F3TH ............338 N5ZM ...........338 WK3N...........338 WA5VGI .......337 WG5G/ IKØADY ........327 QRPp.........319 K7ZM ...........303 YO6HSU.......275
K2FL............ 338 N7FU ............338 WØJLC.........338 W1DF ...........337 QRPp........333 OZ5UR .........327 W6YQ ..........318 HA5LQ..........300
K2TQC..........338 N7RO ...........338 HB9DDZ .......338 W9RPM........337 K2OWE.........332 AB4IQ ..........325 HA1ZH..........318 RN3AKK .......300
K3JGJ ..........338 NØFW ..........338 K4JLD ..........338 G3KMQ ........336 K5UO............332 K6CU............325 N2LM ...........318 K4IE .............295
K3UA............338 OK1MP.........338 K7LAY ..........338 W7IIT ...........336 N6AW...........332 KE3A ............325 CT1YH..........316 YU1YO .........295
K4CN............338 W3GH ..........338 K7VV ............338 K8ME ...........335 W4MPY........332 EA5BY ..........324 EA3ALV ........315 WA9PIE........292

SSB
AB4IQ...........340 K6YRA..........340 VE3MR.........340 K2FL.............338 EA3BMT .......335 OE3WWB .....333 N2LM ...........327 N8SHZ..........312 IK5ZUK.........293
DJ9ZB ..........340 K7VV ............340 VE3MRS.......340 K3UA............338 F6HMJ..........335 AA1VX..........332 WD9DZV ......327 KU4BP..........310 W9ACE.........291
DL3DXX .......340 K8SIX...........340 VE3XN..........340 K7LAY ..........338 IKØAZG ........335 KE3A ............332 K6GFJ ..........326 W6NW..........310 N3KV............289
DU9RG.........340 K9MM ..........340 W3AZD.........340 K9HQM ........338 IW3YGW ......335 N2VW...........332 KE4SCY........326 I3ZSX ...........309 W6MAC........289
EA2IA ..........340 KE5K ............340 W3GH ..........340 N4NX............338 OE2EGL........335 N5YY............332 N2LM ...........326 G3KMQ ........308 K7CU............287
EA4DO..........340 KZ2P ............340 W4ABW........340 W4UNP ........338 VK2HV..........335 K5UO............331 KF4NEF ........325 KA1LMR.......308 IZ1JLG .........282
HB9DDZ .......340 N4CH............340 W5BOS ........340 W9RPM........338 W4WX..........335 SV3AQR .......331 W9GD ..........325 RA1AOB .......308 WD8EOL ......281
I8KCI ............340 N4JF.............340 W6BCQ ........340 YU1AB..........338 WB3D...........335 WØROB........331 VE7EDZ ........324 XE1MEX .......308 IWØHOU ......277
IK1GPG ........340 N4MM ..........340 W6DPD ........340 4Z4DX ..........338 AA4S ............334 W6OUL ........331 F6BFI............323 IØYKN ..........306 N5KAE..........276
IN3DEI..........340 N5FG ............340 W7BJN.........340 K1UO............338 EA5BY ..........334 XE1MEX .......331 ON4CAS .......323 XE1MW ........305 WA5UA ........276
K2TQC..........340 N5ZM ...........340 W7OM..........340 K8LJG ..........338 HB9DQD.......334 KD5ZD..........330 W5GT...........323 K4IE .............304 NØAZZ..........275
K3JGJ ..........340 N7BK............340 W8ILC ..........340 N7WR ..........338 K9OW...........334 WA4WTG .....330 W4MPY........322 K4ZZR ..........304 SQ7B............275
K4CN............340 N7RO ..........340 W9SS...........340 WA5VGI .......338 PY2YP..........334 WØYDB ........330 K8IHQ ..........320 N3RC ...........304 WA9PIE........275
K4IQJ ...........340 NØFW...........340 WB4UBD ......340 W2CC...........338 VK4LC ..........334 ZL1BOQ........330 KW3W..........320 K7ZM ..........303
K4JLD ..........340 OK1MP.........340 WK3N...........340 W2FKF..........338 W8AXI..........334 AD7J ............329 TI8II .............320 4Z5FL/M.......302
K4MQG ........340 OZ3SK..........340 WS9V...........340 W7FP ...........338 XE1J.............334 VE7SMP.......329 YO9HP .........320 K7SAM.........301
K4MZU.........340 OZ5EV ..........340 XE1AE ..........340 W9IL ............338 CT3BM .........333 CT1AHU .......328 W1DF ...........318 KA8YYZ........301
K5OVC..........340 VE1YX ..........340 YU3AA..........340 IØZV.............336 IK8CNT.........333 N1ALR..........328 XE1RBV........317 4X6DK..........298
K5RT ............340 VE2GHZ........340 JA7XBG........339 K3LC ............336 K8LJG ........333 AE9DX..........327 VE6MRT.......317 K2HJB ..........295
K5TVC ..........340 VE2PJ ..........340 KØKG ...........339 K8ME ...........336 N6AW...........333 K7HG............327 IV3GOW .......312 F5MSB .........293
RTTY
NI4H. . . . . . . 338 WK3N. . . . . . 338 N5FG . . . . . . 337 K4CN . . . . . . 334 W3GH . . . . . 333 W9RPM . . . . 330 K8ME . . . . . . 278 N4MM . . . . . 275
WB4UBD . . . 338 N5ZM . . . . . . 338 OK1MP . . . . 337 K8SIX. . . . . . 333 K3UA . . . . . . 332 AB4IQ . . . . . 317 IN3YGW . . . . 275

94 • CQ • December 2016 Visit Our Web Site

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contact your representatives and tell them your feelings on

the new Outgoing QSL Bureau Service rate increase and the
new $7 service fee. Send your comments to your ARRL
Division Director and to all of the ARRL officers. A full listing
can be found here and by following the appropriate path(s)
<http://www.arrl.org/organization-structure>.

ARRL staffer Rose Anne Lawrence, KB1DMW, stands in Some of the special bins set up for distribution of cards
front of the sorting bins at the ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau. misdirected to ARRL HQ.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 95


what’s new
Morse Express Debuts 2016
Christmas Key
Morse Express has released its 2016
Christmas Key, the 16th in the popular
seasonal series. The 2016 Christmas
Key is a fully functional miniature semi-
Marconi style telegraph key commis-
sioned by Morse Express and made by
GHD Telegraph Key in Sendai City,
Japan. This year’s key features a hand-
finished walnut base with a felt pad, per-
fectly proportioned to distribute the
weight of the key and the downward key-
ing force, providing a stable platform for
comfortable use.
In a departure from previous Christmas
keys made by GHD, the 2016 Christmas
Key’s hardware is gold plated over high-
ly polished brass, for a beautiful,
warm finish. The Morse Express 2016
Christmas Key is fully adjustable, with
precision pin bearings at the rear-mount-
ed trunnion, and it has two miniature bind-
ing posts on the right side for connection
to an oscillator or transmitter.
The 2016 Christmas Key measures
1.5 x 2 inches at the base and is 1.5 inch-
es tall depending on adjustment. It
weighs just over 2 ounces. Each key has
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This is a limited edition of 150 keys
priced at $89.95, plus shipping and
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morseexpress.com>.
.OTE “What’s New” is not a product review
and does not constitute a product endorse-
ment by CQ. Information is primarily provid-
ed by manufacturers/vendors and has not
necessarily been independently verified.
96 • CQ • December 2016
ARRL Announcement on
Outgoing QSL Bureau Rate Hike
The following is from the ARRL’s website <http://www.arrl.org/outgoing-qsl-service>
Outgoing QSL Service Rates Changing
The ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau has been a member benefit for decades. Since
its official formation in November 1976, tens of millions of QSL cards have been
shipped from ARRL Headquarters to amateur radio QSL bureaus of other national
societies worldwide. At one time, this benefit offered a safe, reliable and inexpen-
sive way to exchange QSL cards for a fraction of the cost of the postal service. What
amateurs saved in financial cost, however, was made up for in time; it could take
months, or even years, to send and receive a QSL through the Bureau.
In 2016, QSL’ing is very different. Postal services are generally more reliable than
in years past, but international shipping costs have risen significantly. With the advent
of the Internet and online QSL confirmation services such as ARRL’s Logbook of
The World, fewer and fewer paper cards are being exchanged.
While ARRL believes it is important to keep the long-standing tradition of the ARRL
Outgoing QSL Bureau available as a benefit to our members, the increased costs
associated with its administration have required us to find a solution to keep these
services available.
Effective November 1, the rate for one ounce of outgoing QSLs via the bureau will
be increased, to the same as the rate of one ounce of USPS international postage.
As of September 2016, that is $1.15 per ounce (about 10 QSLs). In addition, a ser-
vice fee of $7 will be charged per individual transaction, which covers the Bureau’s
administrative costs.
The Outgoing QSL Bureau is a significant tradition in the world of amateur radio.
ARRL is committed to keeping that tradition and service alive for our members who
enjoy using it. We are committed to ensuring our members will be able to send their
QSL cards through the Bureau for decades to come.
New QSL Service Fee Structure Effective November 1, 2016
ARRL members — including foreign members, QSL Managers, or managers for
DXpeditions — should enclose payment as follows:
$1.15 per ounce, plus $7 QSL Bureau service fee. For example, a package con-
taining 1.5 pounds of cards — 24 ounces, or about 225 cards — will cost $34.60.
Please see the information below for additional pricing details. The minimum charge
is $8.15 for one ounce or less. DXCC credits cannot be used towards the QSL Service
fee.
You should use an accurate scale to weigh your cards. Most post offices have
scales that you may use.
Please pay by check (or money order) and write your callsign on the check. Send
cash at your own risk. DO NOT send postage stamps or IRCs. Please make checks
payable to: “The ARRL Outgoing QSL Service.” If you would like to know that your
cards were received at the ARRL QSL Bureau, include your email address and we
will notify you. Notifications will only be made by email.
Packages received with insufficient payment will not be processed until the
balance is paid in full. The outgoing QSL bureau does not keep money on
account.
Current Rates Until October 31, 2016
ARRL members may continue to send cards through the outgoing QSL bureau at
the current rate of 80 cents per ounce with a $3 minimum.
Quick Reference
Weight Approximate Number of Cards Price
Less than 4 ounces 1 to 34 $3.00
4 ounces 35 $3.20
5 ounces 45 $4.00
6 ounces 55 $4.80
7 ounces 65 $5.60
8 ounces 75 $6.40
One Pound 150 $12.80
Visit Our Web Site
 contesting
BY DAVID SIDDALL,* K3ZJ
ʺ

i `Ê > `ûÊii«ÊÌi

«iÌÌÛiÊÀiÃÊ ÕÀ  }
Plus: A Look at Two Distance-Based Contests;
Volunteers Save the Makrothen RTTY Contest

T
his month the bookend HF bands of 160 and
10 meters are the featured contest bands.
The ARRL 160-Meter Contest and the Stew
Perry Topband Distance Challenge both run dur-
ing December. We expect 160-meter propagation
conditions to be improved over last year for DX.
However, the ARRL 10-Meter Contest is likely to
have fewer and shorter domestic openings, with
only relatively short openings to South America,
Africa, and Oceania. Of course, the fun of con-
testing and ham radio is finding the elusive VK or
ZL during the 5-minute signal peak on 160 near
sunrise, or the 10-minute opening to Europe on 10-
meter backscatter.
We also look at distance-based contest scoring.
This is often proposed as a “solution” to perceived
unfairness in contest scoring formulas. We look at
two such contests below. The Stew Perry Topband
k3zj@cq-amateur-radio.com
Distance Challenge (TBDC) plays on 160 CW in mid-
December. The other distance-based competition,
the Makrothen RTTY contest, was held in October
and survived a recent near-death experience.
Finally, we introduce HFTA (High Frequency
Terrain Analysis) software and how it can be used
to improve your signal. I’m continually surprised at
how many contesters and DXers do not perceive
a need to at least see what it says about their cur-
rent or future QTH. So we introduce our topic for
January that will look at why HFTA may help even
if your tower already is installed and will not be
moved.
ARRL 160-Meter Contest
The ARRL 160-Meter Contest at the beginning of
December kicks off the annual low-band season-
al competitions. Like the CQ 160-meter contests
in January (CW) and February (SSB), the ARRL
160-meter contest starts at 2200 UTC on Friday to

Calendar of Events
All year CQ DX Marathon http://bit.ly/vEKMWD
Nov. 26-27 CQ WW DX CW Contest http://www.cqww.com/rules.htm
Nov. 30 UKEICC 80 Meter Contest CW http://bit.ly/2cv97YF
Dec. 2-4 ARRL 160M Contest http://www.arrl.org/160-meter
Dec. 3 TARA RTTY Melee http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_melee_rules.html
Dec. 3-4 Tops Activity Contest http://bit.ly/1vixKXT
Dec. 3-4 EPC Ukraine DX Contest http://bit.ly/2dskG35
Dec. 4 SARL Digital Contest http://bit.ly/H0IqQf
Dec. 4 Ten-Meter RTTY Contest http://bit.ly/1JjqkIH
Dec. 10-11 AWA Bruce Kelley 1929
Memorial QSO Party – 1st wknd http://bit.ly/1NFY07h
Dec. 10-11 ARRL 10M Contest http://www.arrl.org/10-meter
Dec. 16 AGB Party Contest http://ev5agb.com/contest/agb_party.htm
Dec. 17 RAC Winter Contest http://bit.ly/2df44wh
Dec. 17 OK DX RTTY Contest http://www.crk.cz/ENG/DXCONTE
Dec 17-18 AWA Bruce Kelley 1929 Memorial QSO Party – 2nd wknd http://bit.ly/1NFY07h
Dec. 17-18 Croatian CW Contest http://www.9acw.org/index.php/rules/english
Dec. 17-18 Stew Perry Topband Challenge http://www.kkn.net/stew/stew.rules.txt
Dec. 18 ARRL Rookie Roundup, CW http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup
Dec. 25 RAEM Contest http://raem.srr.ru/en/rules/
Dec. 26 DARC Christmas Contest http://bit.ly/PGRHAT
Dec. 31 2016 CQ DX Marathon ends http://bit.ly/vEKMWD

Jan. 1 2017 CQ DX Marathon begins http://bit.ly/vEKMWD

Jan. 1 SARTG New Year RTTY Contest http://www.sartg.com/
Jan. 1 AGCW Happy New Year Contest http://bit.ly/1v6x2N1
Jan. 4 UKEICC 80 Meter Contest SSB http://bit.ly/2cv97YF
Jan. 7-8 ARRL RTTY Roundup http://www.arrl.org/rtty-roundup
Jan. 7-8 EUCW 160m Contest http://www.eucw.org/eu160.html
Jan. 7-8 WW PMC Contest http://bit.ly/2d7GGvH
Jan. 7-8 Original QRP Contest http://www.qrpcc.de/contestrules/index.html

This information also appears monthly on the CQ website.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 97

take advantage of the two “extra” hours of propagation on
the East Coast. It seems that every year, several operators
forget the unique starting time for these 160-meter contests
and miss the most hectic and productive hours. The ARRL
contest time period ends at 1600 UTC Sunday, allowing
weary operators to hit the sack on Sunday without having to
set their alarms.
The ARRL contest is CW only, and this year plays from
2200 on December 2 (Friday) through 1600 December 4
(Sunday). Complete rules are at: <www.arrl.org/160-meter>.
Activity is at its most hectic at the beginning, with large num-
bers of operators on the air and no dupes to start. Think of it
basically as “Sweepstakes on 160.” While operators outside
USA/Canada are workable for credit, DX-to-DX QSOs do not
count except for stations in U.S. territories and possessions
with separate DXCC status. Nevertheless, many of the larg-
er 160 stations around the world do get on for a short period
at their sunrise or sunset to see if they can work USA/Canada.
Although the DX component of the CQ 160 contests is most-
ly missing from the ARRL version because of the focus on
USA/Canada, the ARRL 160 does provide an incentive to
repair and improve one’s 160-meter antennas. These anten-
nas tend to be more prone to storm damage than others
because of their size. The contest also provides an opportu-
nity for stations with lesser antennas to get into the thick of
things. A relatively low dipole or an inverted “L” with radials
will work very well. Having one of each will work even better,
with the dipole providing excellent signals out to about 500
miles, while the “L” is usually better for signals coming from
stations farther away.
Some kind of low-noise receiving antenna is very helpful
on 160. There are a number of different types of effective
receiving antennas available commercially that are quite
effective in a small space. Beverages long have been dom-
inant, but even a single vertical element can provide useful
diversity. More sophisticated vertical receive arrays up to 9
elements have been built and are used at some stations
instead of Beverages with excellent results. Browsing the
receive antenna options at the Array Solutions <http://
bit.ly/2dDm2Xj> or DX Engineering <http://bit.ly/2ewGZkr>
websites will provide options and ideas to fit the available
space. Just be sure to protect any preamplifier and your trans-
ceiver’s front end from RF when you transmit! If your receive
antenna is close to your transmit antenna, you may have to
detune it to reduce noise that it picks up and re-radiates.
ARRL 10-Meter Contest
Serious competitors and 10-meter aficionados migrate to the
opposite end of the HF spectrum, 10 meters, the weekend
after the ARRL 160-meter contest. The 44th running of the
ARRL 10-Meter Contest will take place between December
10 at 0000 UTC and December 11 at 2359 UTC. Complete
rules are at: <http://www.arrl.org/10-meter>.
Unlike the 160-meter activity, the traditional full 48 hours
are set aside for the 10-meter competition and everyone
works everyone for credit. Although single operators are lim-
ited to 36 hours of total operating time, even in high sunspot
years, few reach this maximum since there are nightly hours
of silence on the band even in the best years.
Also unlike the 160 weekend, both phone and CW modes
are employed in this contest, and multipliers count separately
by mode. Contestants have many categories from which to
select: QRP, low power, or high power using CW, SSB, or
both (“mixed”). In addition, beginning in 2014, the ARRL has
recognized separate categories for scoring and awards for
98 • CQ • December 2016
“unlimited” — those using spotting assistance such as pack-
et or RBN. In 2015, roughly 41% of participants reported using
assistance, while 59% did not.
While lower sunspots are expected to benefit distance con-
tacts on 160 meters, propagation on 10 meters is expected
to suffer. One benefit of fewer stations, however, is less QRM
and a more “relaxed” operating style enjoyed by many. This
also is an opportunity to bring Technician Class licensees
into the picture in an environment less likely to intimidate
them. I would expect openings to be fairly short and to encom-
pass smaller areas than during high sunspot years. From the
Washington, D.C. area, we usually see multiple short open-
ings to the Midwest and west — one and two hops — with
“spotlight” propagation, instead of long openings to the very
large areas.
One note is that some limited propagation to South America
and Oceania is common even in low sunspot years. The
openings are just shorter, except periodically to the “magic
area” of South America from which stations seem to be able
to run North American stations for hours. Expect to see some
very impressive totals from our friends in Brazil and
Argentina. With many fewer signals on the band, these sta-
tions stick out and collect thousands of QSOs, making up for
high sunspot years when they blend in with the others.
I also have had luck pointing the beam to VK and ZL dur-
ing the late afternoon from the East Coast. Invariably two or
three stations call me out of the noise. While the CQ-to-QSO
ratio is very low, it’s a boost to get the call. If “unlimited,” I
would still be sure to call CQ at least two or three periods
each hour. There can be many, many stations tuning around
that never show up on Packet Cluster or the Reverse Beacon
Network (RBN).
Interestingly, the two guys credited with initiating this con-
test are still active in it: Larry, WØPAN, and Bob, K8IA. Look
for them!
Distance-Based Contests: The Makrothen
RTTY and the Stew Perry TBDC Contests
Periodically, contest-oriented reflectors erupt with email
chains objecting to the “scoring unfairness” of this-or-that
contest. Usually the remarks address the most recent con-
test, whatever it happens to be. One “solution” often dis-
cussed is scoring based upon the distance between the two
communicating stations.
Most operators seem to accept that scoring disparities are
inherent in any system and focus their competitive compar-
isons to their earlier scores or to others with similar stations
in their local or regional area. The recent WRTCs have adopt-
ed such an approach, comparing operators only within limit-
ed geographic areas for qualifying purposes. Many individ-
ual operators focus on comparisons with similar stations
within their localities or regions more than nationwide or
worldwide.
Using distance as a scoring tool is not a panacea. It may
still require some creative score weighting to equalize scores
from a geographic area with favorable propagation to the cen-
ters of dense ham populations — Europe, North America,
and Japan. A few long-distance QSOs do not necessarily
make up for thousands of moderately long QSOs with Europe
from the U.S. East Coast, for example — especially for a
competitor in Oceania. There are just more contesters par-
ticipating in international competitions from Europe than from
anywhere else.
Attempts to rescore existing logs based on a distance for-
mula have not defined a scoring system for which substan-
Visit Our Web Site
tial numbers of competitors have expressed support.
However, there ARE two contests that use distance-based
scoring. Each has a dedicated following.
The Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge and the
Makrothen RTTY contest are two specialized contests using
distance-based scoring. These can be considered as test
cases for the wider adoption of such a system. Both contests
are supported by multiple common logging programs, such
as N1MM+. While final calculations are made by the spon-
sors’ log-scoring program, as is the case for most large con-
tests, an estimation of score is provided locally by the log-
ging software.
Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge
The Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge (“TBDC”) is a
160-meter, CW-only contest in its 21st year. In addition to
the original December running, there have been added a “Pre
Stew” in October, a “Summer Stew” in June, and a “Spring
Stew” in March. The next “Stew” event will be held from 1500
UTC December 17 to 1459 UTC December 18.
QSO points in this contest are determined by the distance
between the two communicating stations, which is defined
as the distance between centers of the two stations’ 4-char-
acter grid squares. Points are multiplied by 2 for contacts
with a low-power station (100 watts or less) and multiplied
by 4 for contacts with a QRP station (5 or less watts). There
are no multipliers based on locations of stations worked, but
QRP stations multiply their total points by 3. Low power sta-
tions multiply their points by 1.5.
The “Stew” is light-hearted, with a 14-hour time limitation
on operating. Remote receiving sites generally are allowed
up to 100 kilometers distant, and one’s own skimmer also
can be used — but not the RBN or other forms of assistance
that involve others. Awards for accomplishments not recog-
nized in other contests can be sponsored and won. Almost
anything is fair game, such as a plaque for the highest day-
time-only score. (Remember, this is 160-meter CW only.) Full
details are at: <http://www.kkn.net/stew/>.
By the way, for newcomers, the “Stew Perry” TBDC is
named in honor of W1BB (SK), a long-time pioneering advo-
cate of 160-meter operation. Beginning in the late 1930s,
Stew organized 160-meter “tests” at a time when most hams
were happily working away on the higher frequencies. He
was holder of 160-meter DXCC No. 1 and a tireless advo-
cate for the band during the decades when most ham equip-
ment was limited to 80-10 meters. A short summary of his
contributions to 160-meter advocacy is found at: <http://
bit.ly/2eVu8ML>. Should you work “W1BB” today, you have
worked a club that honors his memory: <http://www.
qrz.com/db/W1BB>.
Makrothen RTTY Contest
A second contest that uses 4-character grid squares to
determine QSO distances is the Makrothen RTTY Contest.
This contest employs 80-10 meters. There are no multipli-
ers, just points based upon distance between the centers of
the two grids. However, points are multiplied by 1.5 for 40-
meter contacts and by 2 for 80-meter contacts. No type of
assistance is permitted for any class.
Never heard of the Makrothen RTTY Contest? Well, I’ve
never participated personally, but a funny thing happened
this past October that is worth relating. The Makrothen con-
test website ceased working a couple of days before the con-
test was to begin. A German enthusiast contacted the
founder and sponsor of this contest and reported that the
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
contest had been canceled. I’m not privy to the situation or
reasons, but news of its cancelation hit the RTTY crowd just
two days before the contest was to start.
As word spread on the RTTY and contest reflectors, par-
ticipants decided to operate anyway. Scott, MMØLID, is
familiar with scoring software and volunteered to compile and
score logs. Another volunteer, Stu, K6TU, offered a website
to report results and generate electronic certificates.
At last count, there were reportedly about 100 logs
received. The volunteers were aiming to have the results and
certificates released during October, just a couple of weeks
after the contest was held. A proposal for new sponsorship
was formulated under the aegis of K6TU and the “Pizza
Lovers 259” (PL259) club that is based in the Silicon Valley
area of California.
What exactly does “Makrothen” mean? It is Greek for “dis-
tance” or “far distance.” Appropriate for a contest with
scoring based on the distance between the two stations
communicating.
HF Terrain Analysis
Next month, we will take an in-depth look at the High
Frequency Terrain Analysis (“HFTA”) software that is bun-
dled with every copy of the ARRL Antenna Book. Most con-
testers who have used this software have been impressed
that their actual on-the-air results tend to confirm the soft-
ware’s output. Nevertheless, in my experience, a significant
number of contesters have never used it and don’t see its
possible uses to improve their signals in their particular sit-
uations. Next month, we will explore in some depth how to
use it and why it is useful even if your station already is built.
By way of introduction, I want to note that the software
has not been completely validated in the manner of a com-
plete scientific analysis. But contesters and DXers have
repeatedly related how their signals perceptibly improved
when implementing changes suggested by the software’s
output, or that its results correlate with their actual operat-
ing experiences.
One story is from WRTC2014. There, HFTA was used to
analyze several hundred sites before settling on the final 65
to be used in the competition. The objective was to make the
sites as equal as possible for the competitors. The WRTC
test results tended to confirm its general accuracy.
HFTA analysis of one particular site, for example, indicat-
ed that it exhibited an advantage to Europe. To check this
analysis, in 2013, the organizers established one of their test
stations at the site during the IARU HF Championship.
Simultaneous reverse beacon network (“RBN”) readings of
that and other equal temporary sites established in the area
confirmed that this particular site — known as the “Morse
Orchard” site — definitely had better signals into Europe.
Note: For this purpose, the WRTC organizers had arranged
to run special software on certain RBN sites that secured
many more signal samples than normal in everyday opera-
tion. The organizers also had established multiple identical
stations at other sites, and arranged for all site operators to
be simultaneously on the same band with the same beam
headings. Without these special features – known hardware,
locations, and special signal sampling rates — RBN read-
ings are unreliable for comparing signal strengths from mul-
tiple stations.
Next month, we will we present an overview and “cheat
sheet” of how to use HFTA to analyze your current station to
improve your signal.
– Until next month, 73, Dave, K3ZJ
December 2016 • CQ • 99
 BY TOMAS HOOD,* NW7US
propagation 4ECHNOLOGY 3PECIAL

ÞViÊÓ{ÊÃÊÞ}t
FLASH! CQWW DX CW Contest
Conditions Look Poor to Fair
Here is an updated forecast made at presstime
for the general propagation conditions expected
during the 2016 CQ World Wide DX CW Contest
weekend of November 26-27. Based on the 27-
day recurrence tendencies of solar and geomag-
netic conditions, we predict poor to fair conditions.
Expect the contest to start under fair conditions,
then degrading as UTC Sunday dawns.
Daily 10.7-cm solar flux levels are expected to
be 80 on day one, and 85 on day two, of the con-
test weekend, so the higher HF bands will not be
as productive as the workhorse, 20 meters. The
geomagnetic planetary A-index is expected to be
higher than we’d like to see, with an Ap of 15 on
day one, and 25 on day two. Hour-by-hour geo-
magnetic conditions may be highly variable. The
lower frequencies will be more productive, and will
allow for weak signals to be heard on higher fre-
quencies when an opening exists on some given
path.
Remember that at any time during the contest, if
there are sunspots present, a flare may occur.
When a flare erupts, it could cause a radio black-
out on the Sun-facing side of the Earth. These last
between 10-60 minutes, depending on the strength
and location of the flare. We don’t expect much
solar flare activity, however.
O
n June 3 through June 6, and a number of
times since, including most recently (as of
the writing of this column) on October 1,
2016, observers of the Sun were unable to find any
sunspots. These spotless days are sure signs that
Cycle 24 is drawing to an end, albeit a slow death.
Sunspots are magnetic regions on the Sun with
magnetic field strengths thousands of times
stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field. Plasma
flows in these magnetic field lines of the sun.
Sunspots appear as dark spots on the surface of
the Sun. Temperatures in the dark centers of
sunspots (the “umbra”) drop to about 3700° K, com-
pared to 5700° K for the surrounding photosphere.
This difference in temperatures makes the spots
appear darker than elsewhere. Sunspots typically
last for several days, although very large ones may
persist for several weeks. They are seen to rotate
around the sun, since they are on the surface, and
the sun rotates fully every 27.5 days.
* P.O. Box 27654
Omaha, NE 68127
<nw7us@nw7us.us>
@NW7US
@hfradiospacewx
100 • CQ • December 2016
LAST-MINUTE FORECAST
Day-to-Day Conditions Expected for December 2016
Expected Signal Quality
Propagation Index (4) (3) (2) (1)
Above Normal:
1-3,5-6,13-15,27-30 A A B C
High Normal:
4,9,12,24,26,31 A B C C-D
Low Normal:
10-11,16-17,21-23 B C-B C-D D-E
Below Normal:
8,25 C C-D D-E E
Disturbed:
7,18-20 C-D D E E
7HERE EXPECTED SIGNAL QUALITY IS
A--Excellent opening, exceptionally strong, steady signals greater than S9
B--Good opening, moderately strong signals varying between S6 and S9,
with little fading or noise.
C--Fair opening, signals between moderately strong and weak, varying
between S3 and S6, with some fading and noise.
D--Poor opening, with weak signals varying between S1 and S3, with con-
siderable fading and noise.
E--No opening expected.
HOW TO USE THIS FORECAST
1. Find the PROPAGATION INDEX associated with the particular path open-
ing from the Propagation Charts appearing in 4HE .EW 3HORTWAVE
0ROPAGATION (ANDBOOK by George Jacobs, W3ASK; Theodore J. Cohen,
N4XX; and Robert B. Rose, K6GKU.
2. With the propagation index, use the above table to find the expected
signal quality associated with the path opening for any given day of the
month. For example, an opening shown in the Propagation Charts with a
propagation index of 2 will be good on December 1 through December 3,
and fair on December 4, and so forth.
3. Alternatively, the Last Minute Forecast may be used as a general guide
to space weather and geomagnetic conditions through the month. When
conditions are Above Normal, for example, the geomagnetic field should be
quiet, and space weather should be mild. On the other hand, days marked
as "Disturbed" will be riddled with geomagnetic storms. Propagation of
radio signals in the HF spectrum will be affected by these conditions. In
general, when conditions are High Normal to Above Normal, signals will be
more reliable on a given path, when the path is supported ionospherically.
Sunspots usually form in groups containing two
sets of spots. One set will have a positive or north
magnetic field while the other set will have a nega-
tive or south magnetic field. The magnetic field is
strongest in the darker parts of the sunspot. The
field is weaker and more horizontal in the lighter part
(the “penumbra”).
Galileo made the first European observations of
sunspots in 1610. The Chinese and many other
early civilizations have a record of sunspots dating
even earlier. Daily sunspot observations were start-
ed at the Zurich Observatory in 1749. By 1849, con-
tinuous sunspot observations were recorded.
The sunspot number is calculated by first count-
ing the number of sunspot groups and then the num-
ber of individual sunspots. The “sunspot number” is
then given by the sum of the number of individual
sunspots and 10 times the number of groups. Since
most sunspot groups have, on average, about 10
spots, this formula for counting sunspots gives reli-
able numbers even when the observing conditions
are less than ideal and small spots are hard to see.
Long-term averages (updated monthly) of the
sunspot numbers show that the number of sunspots
visible on the sun waxes and wanes with an approx-
imately 11-year cycle.
Visit Our Web Site
 A Quick Look at Current /NE 9EAR !GO A Quick Look at
Cycle 24 Conditions Solar Cycle Conditions
(Data rounded to nearest whole number) (Data rounded to nearest whole number)
Sunspots: Sunspots:
Observed Monthly, September 2016: 27 Observed Monthly, September 2015: 47
12-month smoothed, March 2016: 30 12-month smoothed, March 2015: 49

10.7 cm Flux (current): 10.7 cm Flux:

Observed Monthly, September 2016: 88 Observed Monthly, September 2015: 102
12-month smoothed, March 2016: 97 12-month smoothed, March 2015: 131

!P Index: !P Index:
Observed Monthly, September 2016: 16 Observed Monthly, September 2015: 16
12-month smoothed, March 2016: 12 12-month smoothed, March 2015: 12

Sunspot numbers give us a way to

measure the sun’s overall activity. The
more active the sun, the higher the
sunspot count. Scientists have studied
the correlation between the sun’s activ-
ity and the resulting events (like a solar
flare, or a coronal mass ejection), and
our ionosphere and geomagnetic field
activities. The sun directly influences
the Earth’s environment. By keeping
close records of the sunspot numbers
and the overall propagation conditions,
scientists have developed models that
help us forecast HF openings on any
given path.
This recent lack of sunspots indicates
that we are getting close to the period
in this cycle of minimum activity. This
solar cycle minimum marks the end of
the cycle, and the start of the next
(which will bethe 25th since regular
observations began).
This is welcome news for Top Band
(160-meter) enthusiasts, who look for
low solar activity with low geomagnetic showed good performance as early as On 40 meters, regional daytime open-
disturbances, and a quiet winter sea- the end of September, but especially ings will remain strong for most of the
son. This year, we should see a mod- during October. This will continue as we day, while great DX will open early in
erate improvement on the low HF and enter into winter. the afternoon. From midnight to sunrise,
MF bands, only because there yet exist Ten- and 12-meter DX openings 40 promises some of the hottest night-
sources of geomagnetic disturbances. should be possible during much of the time DX during December. The first DX
daylight hours, especially where the openings should be toward Europe and
December Propagation propagation paths cross the sunlit the east during the late afternoon, then
A moderate to low level of solar activi- regions. Fairly good DX openings are move across the south through the
ty is expected during December. The also expected on 17 and 15 meters, hours of darkness, while remaining
density of ionization in the Northern remaining open towards the west dur- open into most parts of the world. Just
Hemisphere is expected to increase ing the early evening. However, 20 after sunrise, openings will be more in
more rapidly after sunrise than during meters will be the hottest of all daytime a westerly direction. Low seasonal
other seasons. Static and atmospheric bands, starting with early morning noise will make DXing a pleasurable
noise levels will be at seasonally low openings in all directions until about an endeavor.
values during the month. Reasonably hour or two after sunrise, and then DX openings on 160 and 80 meters
strong signal levels are expected on remaining open into one place or anoth- during the hours of darkness and into
most of the open bands, while the high- er through the day until early evening. the sunrise period, with considerably
er bands will not be as hot as during the The 30-meter band will be a strong play- decreased static levels, are a sure bet
peak years. er for DXing, as well, following the pat- during the longer hours of darkness in
Continue to expect fair daytime open- tern of 20 meters. When conditions are the northern latitudes. Look for open-
ings on 10, 12, and 15 meters, with the Above Normal (see the Last Minute ings toward Europe and the south from
strongest being on 15. Openings will be Forecast), 30, 20, and 17 meters are the eastern half of the United States and
shorter than at the same time last year likely to remain open towards the south towards the south, the Far East,
due to the lower solar activity, but these and west from early evening until about Australasia, and the South Pacific from
should still hold promise for paths into midnight, especially for DXers in the the western half of the country. Eighty
many parts of the world. Ten meters lower latitudes. meters becomes a reliable long-dis-

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 101

tance band throughout the entire peri-
od of darkness during December.
Openings on 80 should peak towards
Europe and in a generally easterly
direction around midnight, then open in
a generally western direction with a
peak just after sunrise. The band should
remain open towards the south through-
out most of the night.
Overall, expect fair DX conditions on
the higher bands on and above 15
meters, with good DX openings on 15
through 20 meters during most of the
daylight hours. As night falls, move to
30, 40, and 80 meters for DX openings
all over the world.
For short-skip openings during De-
cember, try 80 and 40 meters during the
102 • CQ • December 2016
day for paths less than 250 miles, and
80 or 160 meters at night for these dis-
tances. For openings between 250 and
750 miles, try 40 during the day, and both
80 and 160 at night. For distances
between 750 and 1,300 miles, 20 and 30
should provide daytime openings, while
40 and 80 will be open for these dis-
tances from sunset to midnight. After
midnight, 80 meters will remain open out
to 1,300 miles until sunrise. Try 30 and
40 meters again for about an hour or so
after sunrise. For openings between
1,300 and 2,300 miles, openings will
occur on 20, 17, and 15 meters, with
fewer on 12 and 10 meters, during the
daylight hours. From sundown to mid-
night, check 20, 30, and 40 meters for
these long-distance openings, and then
check 40 and 80 meters after midnight
until sunrise. Try 40 meters again for an
hour or so after sunrise.
VHF Conditions
As there is a high likelihood of occa-
sional geomagnetic disturbances due
to coronal-hole activity, aurora will most
likely occur this month. You’ll want to
look for days with conditions at Dis-
turbed or Below Normal, when there is
a possibility for Field Aligned Irregu-
larities (FAI) and Auroral-E propaga-
tion. Check the last-minute forecast at
the beginning of this column for those
days during December that are expect-
ed to be in these categories.
A slight increase in Sporadic-E prop-
agation is possible on both 6 and 2
meters during this month. This statisti-
cally occurs during the last part of
December and early in January.
Look for some decent meteor shower
activity this month, providing conditions
for meteor-scatter openings on the VHF
bands for distances up to about 1,000
miles.
Meteor scatter propagation is a mode
by which radio signals are refracted off
the ionized plasma trails left by dust and
small particles that have entered into
our atmosphere at thousands of miles
per hour. The ionized trail is produced
by vaporization of the meteor. Meteors
no larger than a pea can produce ion-
ized trails up to 12 miles in length in the
E layer of the ionosphere. Because of
the height of these plasma trains, the
range of a meteor scatter contact is
between 500 and 1,300 miles. The fre-
quencies that are best refracted are
between 30 and 100 MHz. However, with
the development of new software and
techniques, frequencies up to 440 MHz
have been used to make successful
radio contacts off of these meteor trains,
as they are also called. On the lower fre-
quencies, such as six meters, contacts
may last from mere seconds to well over
a minute. The lower the frequency, the
longer the specific opening made by a
single meteor train. A meteor train that
supports a 60-second refraction on 6
meters might only support a 1-second
refraction for a 2-meter signal. Special
high-speed methods are used on these
higher frequencies to take advantage of
the limited available time.
The annual Geminids meteor shower
will peak in mid-December. This is one
of the better showers since as many as
120 visual meteors per hour may occur.
Geminids is a great shower for those
trying the meteor-scatter mode of prop-
agation, since one doesn’t have to wait
Visit Our Web Site
until after midnight to catch this shower. The radiant rises
early, but the best viewing and operating time will still be after
midnight local time. This shower also boasts a broad maxi-
mum, lasting nearly one whole day, so no matter where you
live, you stand a decent chance of catching sight of some
Geminids.
While mostly a southern-hemisphere event, another show-
er is the Phoenicids, active between the end of November and
the first week of December. If we get a higher rate than the
expected 3 or less, this could be a fun shower to try. Only one
impressive Phoenicid shower has been reported, and that was
the year of its discovery in 1956, when the hourly rate was
100. This may be a periodic shower however, and VHF mete-
or scatter operators need more observations of it. However,
based on past experience, you might meet with difficulties
even if there is a higher rate. Radar echoes from the 1956
event were only 30 per hour. This might be due to these low-
velocity meteors producing too little radio-reflecting ionization.
There is considerably less likelihood for 6-meter Trans-
Equatorial (TE) openings during December, but look for a
possible opening between the southern states and locations
deep in South America. The best time to look for these is
between about 8 and 11 p.m. local time.
Check out <www.imo.net/calendar/> for a complete calen-
dar of meteor showers in 2016 and for other years, as well.
Current Solar Cycle Progress
The Royal Observatory of Belgium, the world’s official keeper
of sunspot records, reports a monthly mean sunspot number
of 26.8 for September 2016. The mean value for September
results in a 12-month running smoothed sunspot number of
30.4 centered on March 2016. Following the curve of the 13-
month running smoothed values, a smoothed sunspot level of
30 is expected for December 2016, plus or minus 14 points.
Canada’s Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory at
Penticton, British Columbia reports a 10.7-cm observed
monthly mean solar flux of 87.8 for September 2016. The 12-
month smoothed 10.7-cm flux centered on March 2016 is
96.6. A smoothed 10.7-cm solar flux of about 87 is predict-
ed for December 2016.
The geomagnetic activity as measured by the Planetary-A
index (Ap) for September 2016 is 16. The 12-month
smoothed Ap index centered on March 2016 is 11.8.
Geomagnetic activity should be higher than we had during
November. Refer to the Last Minute Forecast for the outlook
on what days that this might occur (remember that you can
get an up-to-the-day Last Minute Forecast at <http://sunspot-
watch.com> on the main page).
Don’t forget to check out this columnist’s educational tweets
on Twitter.com; you can follow @hfradiospacewx <https://
Twitter.com/hfradiospacewx> for hourly updates that include
the K index numbers, as well as @NW7US <https://Twitter.
com/nw7us> which will provide a daily dose of educational tid-
bits about the Sun and propagation. You can also check
<http://SunSpotWatch.com> for the latest numbers.
I welcome your thoughts, questions, and experiences regard-
ing this fascinating science of propagation. Please check out
the space weather and radio propagation self-study course that
this columnist is offering at <http://NW7US.us/swc>
You may email me, write me a letter, or catch me on the HF
amateur bands. If you are on Facebook, check out <www.
facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio> and <www.facebook.com/
NW7US>. Speaking of Facebook — check out the CQ Amateur
Radio Magazine fan page at <www.facebook.com/CQMag>.
I’ll be keeping my ears to the radio, hoping to hear you on
the air. Happy DX! – 73, Tomas, NW7US
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
what’s new
DXtreme Releases New Station Log Software
DXtreme Software™ has released DXtreme Station Log 12,
a new upgrade to its popular logging program for amateur radio
operators. The new features include:
Automatic Logbook of the World (LoTW) upload: Users
can set Station Log 12 so it uploads each log entry to LoTW
automatically when added, capturing and saving QSO Record
Status from the LoTW server as part of the process. Modified
log entries can be uploaded as well. Manual reporting is still
optional.
LoTW Reporting: Users can perform searches and run
reports filtered by LoTW QSO Record Status or by LoTW QSL
Record Status, which indicates the date of each LoTW QSL
record processed by DXtreme’s LoTW QSL update utility.
JT65A and JT9 Contact Pre-fill: Users can pre-fill the
Station Log window with log information from a JT65A or JT9
contact completed on WSJT-X or JT65-HF-HB9HQX Edition.
Afreet Ham CAP Integration Expansion: Station Log 12
now integrates with optional Afreet Ham CAP throughout the
program.
Quick Find: Search quickly for a station in their log. If the call
is in the log, a list of QSOs with it appears on a popup window.
If desired, the list of log entries can be loaded into the Station
Log window for viewing or editing, one log entry at a time.
Improv Imaging: Lets users associate adhoc images with
their log entries. This feature is like, but separate from, our pop-
ular QSL Imaging facility. Users can capture, scan, or paste
any image and save it as a single-page .JPG, or single- or
multi-page .TIF.
Other Imaging Enhancements: The QSL image previewer
on the Station Log window is larger, as is the QSL Image
Explorer, which also lets users call-up, in the Station Log win-
dow, the log entry associated with each QSL image, making
the Explorer act like a Search window.
UX Improvements: Users can apply foreground and back-
ground colors and font attributes to grid headings and data
rows throughout the program.
DXtreme Station Log 12 runs in 32- and 64-bit versions of
Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7,
Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
DXtreme Station Log 12 has a retail price of $89.95 for a
download. CD shipment is available at a nominal surcharge.
All prices include product support by email. For more infor-
mation, contact: Bob Raymond, NE1I, <bobraymond@
dxtreme.com>. Website: <www.dxtreme.com>.
December 2016 • CQ • 103
 “There You Go Again…”
our readers say... Our October editorial on the ARRL¶s proposal to study
a possible new entry-level license drew several
responses:
Editor, CQ:
I enjoyed reading your editorial concerning the ARRL
board action to create an ad hoc committee to study a
new entry-level license class.
It might be helpful, perhaps, if the committee’s work
included surveying available license study, technical
and operating publications and then considering
whether these publications need replacement so that
they are current, complete and accurate, and they
address the right target audience — people who are
not hams.
You mention programs for mentoring, and these
mentors might also benefit from availability of more
current, complete and accurate study publications. It
seems like the amateur community should be sure it
is doing an excellent job of preparing test applicants
before it embarks on creating a possibly unnecessary
entry-level test.
David Bohn, KEØCCX
Eden Prairie, MN
Editor, CQ:
Great article. The issue of accessing new licensees
appears to be an ongoing challenge but is easily reme-
died with club level initiatives of reaching out, identify-
ing local clubs or organizations to new licensees, and
inviting new licensees to meeting not just in person but,
more importantly, on the air. What got my own wife inter-
ested was being a part of RACES, where her license
was put to use in a meaningful manner. Admittedly, she
encountered some sexism, but being a Ph.D. (i.e., psy-
chotherapist), she attributed it to issues within such per-
sons’ psyche and ignored comments.
As for me, I was an Army Emergency Preparedness
Liaison Officer and learned via Hurricane Katrina that
amateur radio still existed and was a viable resource in
emergency. Truthfully, I had thought that ham radio had
gone the way of black and white television.
73, Jaime R. Román, KG6YYT
Sacramento, CA
Editor, CQ:
The ARRL board is interested in two things: Money
and power. Increasing the number of license classes
gives the ARRL more opportunities for manual sales
and VEC session fees. Why settle for three manuals
and session fees when four would be much nicer?
Perhaps the new sub-tech class could be restricted to
some subset of frequencies particularly useful to ARES.
I believe the objective is to increase revenue from the
licensing process. The rest is a power grab. If they would
like to encourage more making, etc., perhaps they
should include some theory articles that are aimed at
those of us who do not already have an EE degree.
Patrick Slayton, KV4MO
Editor, CQ:
Well thought out, and well written. Somewhere,
Wayne Green is smiling with satisfaction over this
editorial.
73, Howard Hecht, W1HO
Statesville, NC
Editor, CQ:
You were on the money in your article ... I have writ-
104 • CQ • December 2016
ten the same thing to ARRL. We can’t compete with
social media. The thrill I had as a kid in the ’50s SWLing
and ham radio was like iPhones and tablets are today!
Remember Popular Electronics magazine, the Novice
and SWL section? Again, good article, ARRL has no
clue!
Don Lampkin, WA2HMB
Fair Play, SC
W2VU replies:
Hi Don,
You’re right — we can’t compete with social media
and we shouldn’t. We need to use social media to reach
out to millennials — both current and prospective hams
— and show them how much fun and excitement ham
radio has to offer. Think about computers in the ’80s
and ’90s, and the internet in the ’00s — all were sup-
posed to kill off ham radio, but we integrated them into
ham radio, made them part and parcel of being a ham
and strengthened the hobby in the end. We need to take
the same approach to social media and to the maker
movement.
Energy Harvesting
The following letter is directed to ³Math¶s Notes´ edi-
tor Irwin Math, WA2NDM, in response to his October
column on ³Energy Harvesting.´
Dear CQ:
When I was playing around with crystal radio in the
early 1950s, it occurred to me that perhaps the output
of a crystal radio could be adapted to power a one-tran-
sistor radio. I never tried it, but it appears the theory was
sound, considering your October article on energy har-
vesting. I also wonder how close this is to Tesla’s ideas
and experiments? Thank you. Sincerely,
Harrison Church, WØKXP
Lebanon, IL
WA2NDM responds:
Energy harvesting in this way is certainly possible. I
believe that the column even shows a circuit describing
how it was proposed. By the way, with a long antenna,
it does work.
Radio Craft?
Editor, CQ:
I read with some bemusement the curious suggestion,
in the October CQ’s “Our Readers Say...”, that grown
adults should dedicate their time to get a petition signed
to request/demand to have amateur radio renamed to
Radio Craft.
In my humble opinion, a ‘craft’ is more rightly some-
thing that a group of bored people, after reading about
a revival of Wiccan beliefs might use to organize a
Coven, or more appropriate if we were macrameing
together radios, or collaging them, instead of soldering
them together.
Perhaps Michael is unaware of the origin of the term
“amateur.” It is derived from a Latin word for “lover,”
and if there is one thing that unites all of the represen-
tatives of amateur radio, it is that we love this darn (yes!)
HOBBY!
Is it a “lifestyle?” A “philosophy?” A “state of being?”
No, it’s a hobby — a wonderful, exciting, enjoyable,
rewarding hobby.
Amateurs! Be proud of that word!
It works for me!
73, Roy Laufer, AC2GS
Brooklyn, NY
Visit Our Web Site
 $QQXDO&4,QGH[
ANTENNAS
Antennas: Artificial Ground, Britain (WA5VJB), Feb, p. 80
Antennas: Build a Broadbanded Pizza Pan Vertical, Britain (WA5VJB),
Aug, p. 67
Antennas: FLASH! EPA Declares the SWR an Endangered Species,
Britain (WA5VJB), Apr, p. 54
Antennas: SDRs and Antenna Filters, Britain (WA5VJB), Dec, p. 82
Antennas: Secrets of the Fiberglass Whip, Britain (WA5VJB),
Oct, p. 79
Antennas: Skin Effect, Britain (WA5VJB), Jun, p. 91
Building a Subsidiary Loop-Fed Coaxial Loop, Drammissi (K3YUN),
Feb, p. 68
Can a Loop Be a Heart Stopper? Loops and Pacemakers, Lazar
(W4DNN), Feb, p. 66
Gordo’s Short Circuits: Mind Your Traps; plus HT headsets, West
(WB6NOA), Mar, p. 72
Hex Bracket Dipole, White (N4PDY), Jun, p. 48
Learning Curve: Common Amateur Radio Antenna Connectors, Ochu
(KOØZ), Apr, p. 56
Learning Curve: Seeking Balance, Ochu (KOØZ), Feb, p. 76
Learning Curve: Waterproofing Coax Connectors, Ochu (KOØZ), Oct,
p. 83
Math’s Notes: Passive Antenna Investigations, Math (WA2NDM),
Sep, p. 38
Mobiling: It’s (Always) All About the Antenna, Reinhardt (AA6JR),
Nov, p. 58
N9Q: Celebrating the 73rd Anniversary of the Cubical Quad Antenna,
Weber (ex-KD6TKQ/HC7AW), Mar, p. 24
QRP: Mega Antenna Transforms QRP Into QRO, Lazar (W4DNN),
Jun, p. 84
QRP: QRP and a Small Magnetic Loop Antenna, Lazar (W4DNN),
Feb, p. 63
BEGINNERS/NEWCOMERS
Learning Curve: Common Amateur Radio Antenna Connectors, Ochu
(KOØZ), Apr, p. 56
Learning Curve: Common Antenna Connector Adapters for Field and
Shack Use, Ochu (KOØZ), May, p. 44
Learning Curve: Field Day, Bandpass Filters, and the Scientific
Method, Ochu (KOØZ), Sep, p. 59
Learning Curve: Geocaching and Foxhunting, Ochu (KOØZ),
Nov, p. 61
Learning Curve: Getting Started with Emergency and Public Service
Communications, Ochu (KOØZ), Jun, p. 71
Learning Curve: Life is Too Short Not to QRP, Ochu (KOØZ),
Jan, p. 75
Learning Curve: Paralysis Through Analysis, Ochu (KOØZ),
Aug, p. 58
Learning Curve: SDR: Join in the Fun!, Ochu (KOØZ), Dec, p. 67
Learning Curve: Seeking Balance, Ochu (KOØZ), Feb, p. 76
Learning Curve: Space Weather – What it is and Why You Should
Care, Ochu (KOØZ), Mar, p. 74
Learning Curve: Waterproofing Coax Connectors, Ochu (KOØZ),
Oct, p. 83
On the Road with WB2MGP, Perry (WB2MGP), Jan, p. 14
BOOK REVIEWS
Contact Sport, by J.K. George, N3BB, CQ Staff, Jan, p. 56
Triple Charlie¶s Shack Companion… by Dave Hassler, K7CCC,
Feldman (KD2IWM), Feb, p. 105
BROADCASTING (AM/FM/TV)
Communications Horizons: Is Anyone Out There? – The Uncertain
State of Audience Measurement, de Santos (K8RKD), Sep, p. 72
Communications Horizons: Where Have All the Radios Gone?, de
Santos (K8RKD), Dec, p. 80
CLASSIC RADIO GEAR & NOSTALGIA
American Morse Code: Our Heritage, Averill (K4EOR), Oct, p. 32
Bringing the Heathkit SB-200 Into the 21st Century, Markle (K8IHQ)
Jan, p. 39
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
Building a Classic Novice Station of 1956, Polk (W4SAY), Dec, p. 38
Ham Notebook: Reliving a Heathkit Experience, Yoshida (KH6WZ),
Nov, p. 44
Math’s Notes: Nostalgia, Math (WA2NDM), Dec, p. 49
Off the Air: Novice Rig Roundup, Sickles (WA3UVV), Dec, p. 77
N7C: Celebrating the Navajo Code Talkers, Davies (K7BHM),
Dec, P. 50
N9Q: Celebrating the 73rd Anniversary of the Cubical Quad Antenna,
Weber (ex-KD6TKQ/HC7AW), Mar, p. 24
The “Key” to Unlocking Our Past, Bullock (GØEML), Oct, p. 36
The Day the FCC Came Knocking, Dary (W5ZAX), Sep, p. 10
The Paraset: a WWII Spy Radio You Can Build (The Ultimate QRP
Transceiver), Kato (AH6CY), Feb, p. 19
The Tuna Tiny Spy Radio – A Modern Version of the Paraset,
Giammanco (N5IB), Feb, p. 26
Update – Another WWII Clandestine Radio, Kato (AH6CY),
Feb, p. 24
COMPUTERS & INTERNET
A Single-Chip Repeater Controller Using an FPGA, Alcock (VE6VH),
Dec. p. 24
Awards: Useful Spotting Networks for the Awards Hunter, Melinosky
(K1BV), Dec, p. 88
DX: Club Log’s Newest Features, Schenck (N2OO), Mar, p. 88
Introduction to Microcontrollers, An (Part IV), Titus (KZ1G) Jan, p. 32
Introduction to Microcontrollers, An (Part V), Titus (KZ1G) Mar, p. 32
Introduction to Microcontrollers, An (Part VI), Titus (KZ1G) May, p. 28
Introduction to Microcontrollers, An (Part VII), Titus (KZ1G) Jul, p. 30
Radio Manuals (and other PDFs) on Your iPhone 6, Steinhoff (W7UP),
Jun, p. 50
RF Bits: A Long Day and Many a Night’s Journey with Allstar, Srebnick
(K2DLS), Jan, p. 83
VHF Plus: Another VHF Plus Internet Tool, Emanuele (WA8RJF),
May, p. 81
W7DXX Remote: 17 Years and Counting, LaMonica (W7DXX),
Sep, p. 13
CONSTRUCTION
A Single-Chip Repeater Controller Using an FPGA, Alcock (VE6VH),
Dec. p. 24
Antennas: Build a Broadbanded Pizza Pan Vertical, Britain (WA5VJB),
Aug, p. 67
Antennas: SDRs and Antenna Filters, Britain (WA5VJB), Dec, p. 82
Bringing the Heathkit SB-200 Into the 21st Century, Markle (K8IHQ)
Jan, p. 39
Building the ozQRP MDT QRP DSB Transceiver, Purdum (W8TEE),
Sep, p. 32
Building a Classic Novice Station of 1956, Polk (W4SAY),
Dec, p. 38
Cheap and Easy BCI Filter, A, Purdum (W8TEE), Aug, p. 38
Ham Notebook: Preparing Ham Radio Projects for a Maker Faire,
Yoshida (KH6WZ), Jul, p. 58
Ham Notebook: Projects and Workspaces, Yoshida (KH6WZ), Sep,
p. 54
Ham Notebook: Reliving a Heathkit Experience, Yoshida (KH6WZ),
Nov, p. 44
Kit-Building: “Curiously Strong,” Eisenberg (KØNEB), Apr, p. 50
Kit-Building: “Go Big Red,” Eisenberg (KØNEB), Sep, p. 50
Kit-Building: “Something Old, Something New,” Eisenberg (KØNEB),
Jan, p. 71
Kit-Building: A Box of Fun and a Place (in Dayton) to Make Fun,
Eisenberg (KØNEB), May, p. 62
Kit-Building: A Pixie Helper and a Receiver with a Slice of Pi, Eisenberg
(KØNEB), Jul, p. 54
Kit-Building: A Round Tuit, Eisenberg (KØNEB), Oct, p. 54
Kit-Building: Finishing the Rockmite ][, Eisenberg (KØNEB),
Mar, p. 56
Kit-Building: It’s Crystal Clear, Eisenberg (KØNEB), Dec, p. 62
Kit-Building: Kits on a Plane, Eisenberg (KØNEB), Aug, p. 54
Kit-Building: One Door Closes, Two More Open, Eisenberg (KØNEB),
Jun, p. 80
December 2016 • CQ • 105
 Kit-Building: The Rockmite ][ - An Updated Classic QRP Kit, Eisenberg
(KØNEB), Feb, p. 70
Kit-Building: What the Heck? Eisenberg (KØNEB), Nov, p. 52
The Paraset: a WWII Spy Radio You Can Build (The Ultimate QRP
Transceiver), Kato (AH6CY), Feb, p. 19
Sherlock Investigates: The Failed State of Electronics, Signorelli
(WØRW), Dec, p. 34
The Tuna Tiny Spy Radio – A Modern Version of the Paraset,
Giammanco (N5IB), Feb, p. 26
Three Inexpensive Keys You Can Build Easily, Kato (AH6CY),
Oct, p. 41
CONTESTS & AWARDS
Announcing: The 2016 CQ World Wide DX Contest, Aug, p. 37
Announcing: The 2016 CQ World Wide VHF Contest, May, p. 76
Announcing: The 2016 CQ World Wide WPX Contest, Jan, p. 26
Announcing: The 2016 CQWW RTTY DX Contest, Aug, p. 27
Announcing: The 2017 CQ DX Marathon, Nov, p. 32
Announcing: The 2017 CQWW 160-Meter Contest, Nov, p. 55
Announcing: 2017 CQ World Wide WPX RTTY Contest, Dec, p. 35
Awards: A Rare Trio of Swedish Awards, Melinosky (K1BV),
Feb, p. 84
Awards: Alaska’s Judicial Districts and Awards of the CQCW.RU Club,
Melinosky (K1BV), Apr, p. 72
Awards: Awards from Uruguay, Melinosky (K1BV), Jun, p. 103
Awards: Back to Nature – Flora and Fauna Awards, Melinosky (K1BV),
Aug, p. 90
Awards: Indiana Celebrates Bicentennial with County Award,
Melinosky (K1BV), Jan, p. 93
Awards: QSO “Spots” on the Internet, Melinosky (K1BV), Jul, p. 77
Awards: Romania Offers Interesting and Colorful Awards, Melinosky
(K1BV), Sep, p. 80
Awards: Short-Term Awards from Rare Locations, Melinosky (K1BV),
May, p. 78
Awards: Single Awards from Small Countries, Melinosky (K1BV),
Mar, p. 84
Awards: Ukraine Celebrates 25 Years of Independence With UARL-
25 Award, Melinosky (K1BV), Oct, p. 92
Awards: Useful Spotting Networks for the Awards Hunter, Melinosky
(K1BV), Dec, p. 88
Chasing (and Setting) a CQWW QRP Record on 160, Mohr
(SMØMDG/SEØX), Feb, p. 32
Contesting: A New Radiosport Book, Contest Activities at Dayton and
March Contests, Siddall (K3ZJ), Mar, p. 94
Contesting: ARRL DX CW and CQ160 Phone This Month, Siddall
(K3ZJ), Feb, p. 98
Contesting: CQWW CW and ARRL Sweepstakes, Siddall (K3ZJ),
Nov, p. 92
Contesting: CQWW VHF and IARU HF World Championship Kick Off
Summer Contesting Season, Siddall (K3ZJ), Jul, p. 86
Contesting: Eliminating Transmitted “Crud,” Siddall (K3ZJ), Jan,
p. 102
Contesting: HF “Bookend Bands” Keep the Competitive Fires
Burning, Siddall (K3ZJ), Dec, p. 97
Contesting: Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Stations… Siddall
(K3ZJ), Sep, p. 88
Contesting: News of and Tips for the CQ World Wide DX Phone and
Oceania DX Contests, Siddall (K3ZJ), Oct, p. 100
Contesting: Remote Contesting, Two Pioneers, and Summer
VHF/UHF Contests, Siddall (K3ZJ), Jun, p. 95
Contesting: VHF/UHF Contesting and the JARL All Asia DX Contest,
Siddall (K3ZJ), Aug, p. 84
Contesting: Youth Contesting in Europe, Siddall (K3ZJ), May, p. 72
Contesting: Youth in Ham Radio (and more), Siddall (K3ZJ), Apr,
p. 82
CQ World Wide DX Contest All-Time Records (50th Edition),
Capossela (K6SSS) Oct, p. 35, 49
Get Ready for Hidden Transmitter Fun on CQWW Foxhunting
Weekend, Moell (KØOV), Apr, p. 35
Homing In: ARDF World Championships, Moell (KØOV), Nov, p. 66
Homing In: Results of the 2015 CQ World Wide Foxhunting Weekend,
Moell (KØOV), Feb, p. 42
Homing In: Transmitter Hunting Across the Spectrum, Moell (KØOV),
Oct, p. 63
Homing In: USA’s Best Foxhunters Have Eyes on Bulgaria, Moell
(KØOV), Aug, p. 74
Learning Curve: Geocaching and Foxhunting, Ochu (KOØZ), Nov,
p. 61
106 • CQ • December 2016
National Wildlife Refuges and Special Use Permits for Ham Radio,
Joyner (W4YBV), Jan, p. 18
QRP “Newbie” Takes on the CQWW SSB DX Contest, A, Manning
(WB3D), Apr, p. 26
QRP: The Do’s and Don’ts of QRP Contesting, Rought (KA8SMA),
Oct, p. 58
Results of the 2015 CQ DX Marathon, Sweeney (K9EL/A3CDX), Jun,
p. 19
Results of the 2015 CQ World Wide DX CW Contest, Thompson
(K5ZD), May, p. 16
Results of the 2015 CQ World Wide DX SSB Contest, Thompson
(K5ZD), Apr, p. 16
Results of the 2015 CQ World Wide RTTY DX Contest, Muns (WØYK),
Mar, p. 17
Results of the 2015 CQ World Wide VHF Contest, Bolia (N8BJQ),
Jan, p. 20
Results of the 2016 CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest, Blank (N2NT),
Aug, p. 28
Results of the 2016 CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest, Muns
(WØYK), Jul, p. 20
Results of the 2016 CQ WW WPX SSB Contest, Zivney (N4TZ), Sep,
p. 17
Results of the 2016 CQWW WPX CW Contest, Zivney (N4TZ), Nov,
p. 22
VHF Plus: The Non-ARRL UHF Contest, Emanuele (WA8RJF), Dec,
p. 86
Weekend at IOTA’s, Tortorella (W2IY), Jun, p. 13
DIGITAL/PACKET
Digital Connection: Diagnosis Process (or Why Doesn’t the #%@?
Thing Work?), Rotolo (N2IRZ), Sep, p. 66
Digital Connection: FCC Proposal: Let HF Data Go Wideband, Rotolo
(N2IRZ), Oct, p. 68
Digital Connection: Instant Digital, Rotolo (N2IRZ), Jul, p. 70
Digital Connection: The Global Positioning System (GPS), Rotolo
(N2IRZ), Jan, p. 80
Digital Connection: This and That and Loose Ends, Rotolo (N2IRZ),
May, p. 66
Digital Connection: WA4DSY and the GRAPES 56k-Baud Packet
Modem, Rotolo (N2IRZ), Mar, p. 68
DX & OPERATING
Awards: WIA Puts Award Program Entirely Online, Melinosky (K1BV),
Nov, p. 82
CQ World Wide: YOTA 2016 Attracts Young Hams From Around the
World, Smerk (AA6TS), Oct, p. 71
A5A: 2016 Micro DXpedition to Bhutan, Muangamphun (E21EIC),
Dec, p. 10
DX: ARRL Sharply Increases Outgoing QSL Bureau Rates, Schenck
(N2OO), Dec, p. 91
DX: Club Log’s Newest Features, Schenck (N2OO), Mar, p. 88
DX: DX in the (Really) Deep South – Part I, Schenck (N2OO) /
Collingham (K3LP), May, p. 10
DX: DXpedition Funding, Schenck (N2OO), Sep, p. 82
DX: DXpedition Planning, Schenck (N2OO), Oct, p. 95
DX: Hillview Gardens ARC, 9M6AAC/9M6A (and the CQ Bar and Grill),
Schenck (N2OO), Feb, p. 87
DX: How Many Times do YOU Work a DX Station? Schenck (N2OO),
Nov, p. 86
DX: More DX in the (Really) Deep South – Part II, Schenck (N2OO)
/Collingham (K3LP), Jun, p. 28
DX: Return QSL, Schenck (N2OO), Jan, p. 96
DX: Team QSL Managing: The South Jersey DX Association Story,
Schenck (N2OO), Aug, p. 92
DX: The Northern California DX Foundation: Supporting DXing for 44
Years, Schenck (N2OO), Jul, p. 80
DX: YF1AR/8 IOTA Tour, Schenck (N2OO), Apr, p. 76
Field Day on Steroids; CQWW CW From ED8X, Richardson (KQ1F),
Nov, p. 10
Field Day Story Forty Years in the Making, A, Minikiewicz (W4FSV),
Nov, p. 16
Ham Radio at Altitude – The Colorado 14er Event at 25 Years, B.
Witte (KØNR) and J. Witte (KØJJW), Aug, p. 10
N7C: Celebrating the Navajo Code Talkers, Davies (K7BHM), Dec,
p. 50
National Wildlife Refuges and Special Use Permits for Ham Radio,
Joyner (W4YBV), Jan, p. 18
Visit Our Web Site
 NPOTA at Great Falls: The Fair Lawn ARC’s 60th Anniversary Special
Event, Efchak (W2XR), Oct, p. 27
Off the Air: “QRQ LID,” Sickles (WA3UVV), Jun, p. 93
Seven Parks in Seven Days, Lunsford (KD7RCJ), Nov, p. 18
T42US Joint Cuban/U.S. DXpedition, Sweigart (KC4BAB), Apr, p. 10
Tannu Tuva & Wrangel Island: The Odd Couple of DXCC, Richmond
(W4YO), Oct, p. 30
Tuning Up for 630-Meter Reception Using Aircraft Beacons, Elias
(N3AIU), Dec. p. 18
HUMOR
Antennas: FLASH! EPA Declares the SWR an Endangered Species,
Britain (WA5VJB), Apr, p. 54
Math’s Notes: Unusual Optical Communications, Math (WA2NDM),
Apr p. 38
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
CQ World Wide: “Look! Up in the Sky!” Smerk (AA6TS), Apr, p. 67
CQ World Wide: Countries Across the World Actively Bring Ham Radio
to Youth, Smerk (AA6TS), May, p. 69
CQ World Wide: Floods and Typhoons in Asia; Good News for Kosovo,
Smerk (AA6TS), Mar, p. 52
CQ World Wide: Ham News from Around the World and Beyond,
Smerk (AA6TS), Sep, p. 46
CQ World Wide: Hams Get Government Support in Anguilla, Smerk
(AA6TS), Aug, p. 47
CQ World Wide: Hamfests and Hurricanes…, Smerk (AA6TS), Dec,
p. 58
CQ World Wide: Heading South for the Winter (um, Summer), Smerk
(AA6TS), Nov, p. 70
CQ World Wide: India and Australia Actively Encouraging Ham Radio
Activities, Smerk (AA6TS), Jun, p. 77
CQ World Wide: India Holds Field Day and Hams Respond to
Devastating Ecuadorian Earthquake, Smerk (AA6TS), Jul, p. 46
CQ World Wide: Progress in North Korea and Special Prefix for
Cornwall, Smerk (AA6TS), Jan, p. 58
CQ World Wide: South Africa Trains for an Emergency, Restricts
Licenses, Smerk (AA6TS), Feb, p. 59
CQ World Wide: YOTA 2016 Attracts Young Hams From Around the
World, Smerk (AA6TS), Oct, p. 71
Promoting Ham Radio to Youth in India, Perry (WB2MGP), Jul, p. 16
KEYS & KEYERS, CW
American Morse Code: Our Heritage, Averill (K4EOR), Oct, p. 32
The “Key” to Unlocking Our Past, Bullock (G0EML), Oct, p. 36
Three Inexpensive Keys You Can Build Easily, Kato (AH6CY),
Oct, p. 41
LEGAL & REGULATORY
Digital Connection: FCC Proposal: Let HF Data Go Wideband, Rotolo
(N2IRZ), Oct, p. 68
MISCELLANEOUS
2017 Nominations Open for the CQ Amateur Radio, DX, and Contest
Halls of Fame, Dec., p. 23
Announcing: 2016 CQ Hall of Fame Inductees, Jul, p. 28
Artwork NOT Just for Hams and Computer Nerds, R. Lazar (K4KLQ),
Jun, p. 89
CQ Interviews: Professor Emil Heisseluft, Cohen (N4XX), Apr, p. 28
CQ Reports: IEEE Globecom 2015, Smerk (AA6TS), Mar, p. 12
From Sarajevo to Silicon Valley: AC6YY and the International
Fraternity of Hams, Kato (AH6CY), Jan, p. 10
Ham Notebook: It’s Showtime! – Maker Faire Preparations, Yoshida
(KH6WZ), Jan, p. 65
Ham Notebook: Technical Conferences, Yoshida (KH6WZ), Mar,
p. 60
Have Big-Time Maker Faires Lost Their Way?, Moseson (W2VU), Dec,
p. 44
Learning Curve: Directional Hearing Aids – Yagis for Your Ears, Ochu
(KOØZ), Jul, p. 14
Magic in the Sky: It’s Showtime, Reinhardt (AA6JR), Apr, p. 60
Magic in the Sky: More Laws Than Physics Can Accommodate,
Reinhardt (AA6JR), Jul, p. 68
Magic in the Sky: My Computer Wrote This for Me, Reinhardt (AA6JR),
Oct, p. 76
Magic in the Sky: The Blank Page, Reinhardt (AA6JR), Jan, p. 78
Mary Ann Crider, WA3HUP/JY9AA, SK, Laun (K3ZO), May, p. 94
www.cq-amateur-radio.com
Math’s Notes: Nostalgia, Math (WA2NDM), Dec, p. 49
Muhammad Ali and Me: A Brief Recollection, Dabdoub (KB5AVY),
Aug, p. 16
N7C: Celebrating the Navajo Code Talkers, Davies (K7BHM), Dec, p.
50
Off the Air: Continuing Education, Sickles (WA3UVV), Mar, p. 66
Off the Air: End of an Era in Dayton – Hara Arena to Close, Sickles
(WA3UVV), Sep, p. 70
Off the Air: Novice Rig Roundup, Sickles (WA3UVV), Dec, p. 77
One for the Books: Mini Maker Faires at Barnes & Noble, Moseson
(W2VU), Jan, p. 28
Travels with CQ – the 2016 Dayton Hamvention®, Jul, p. 18
Travels With CQ: KJI Electronics Customer Appreciation Weekend,
Moseson (W2VU), Mar, p. 14
Twenty-ninth Dayton Youth Forum and Counting, Perry (WB2MGP),
Aug, p. 23
Using a Drone to Track Down Repeater Interference, Stiebel (W6PAZ),
Mar, p. 10
W7P: The “Year of Pluto” Special Event, Brown (W7FYW) and Wertz
(NF7E), Jul, p. 10
MOBILE
Bicycle QRP MiniDXpedition to Albania, Kovaceski (Z35M), Jun, p. 10
Ham Notebook: DC Power Cable for Portable Operations – Revisited,
Yoshida (KH6WZ), May, p. 48
Ham Radio Riverboat Mobile, Averill (K4EOR), Jun, p. 43
Mobiling: Details, Details, Reinhardt (AA6JR), Aug, p. 70
Mobiling: It’s (Always) All About the Antenna, Reinhardt (AA6JR), Nov,
p. 58
Mobiling: Liftoff! Reinhardt (AA6JR), Feb, p. 74
Mobiling: The Rites of Spring, Reinhardt (AA6JR), May, p. 52
QRP Maritime Mobile on Cruise Ships, Kato (AH6CY), Jun, p. 38
OPINION/COMMENTARY
DX: ARRL Sharply Increases Outgoing QSL Bureau Rates, Schenck
(N2OO), Dec, p. 91
Have Big-Time Maker Faires Lost Their Way?, Moseson (W2VU), Dec,
p. 44
Math’s Notes: Nostalgia, Math (WA2NDM), Dec, p. 49
Zero Bias: “There You Go Again…,” Moseson (W2VU), Oct, p. 8
Zero Bias: 80 Meters, the ARRL and the FCC’s “Error,” Moseson
(W2VU), May, p. 8
Zero Bias: 97.1, Moseson (W2VU), Jan, p. 8
Zero Bias: Across the Bands, Around the World, Moseson (W2VU),
Jul, p. 8
Zero Bias: Denial of Service, Moseson (W2VU), Dec, p. 8
Zero Bias: HamThink, Moseson (W2VU), Nov, p. 8
Zero Bias: How Old Are You Now? Moseson (W2VU), Feb, p. 8
Zero Bias: Meeting New Hams Where They Are, Moseson (W2VU),
Apr, p. 8
Zero Bias: The People Hobby, Moseson (W2VU), Aug, p. 8
Zero Bias: Those Three Little Words, Moseson (W2VU), Mar, p. 8
Zero Bias: When Failure IS an Option, Moseson (W2VU), Jun, p. 8
Zero Bias: Who “Owns” What in Amateur Radio? Moseson (W2VU),
Sep, p. 8
POWER SUPPLIES & BATTERIES
Gordo’s Short Circuits: Ultra-Lightweight, Long-Runtime, Batteries,
West (WB6NOA), Jul, p. 64
PRODUCT REVIEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CQ Reviews: Wouxun KG-UV9D Handheld, West (WB6NOA), Feb,
p. 36
Gordo’s Short Circuits: Mind Your Traps; plus HT headsets, West
(WB6NOA), Mar, p. 72
Gordo’s Short Circuits: Ultra-Lightweight, Long-Runtime, Batteries,
West (WB6NOA), Jul, p. 64
RF Bits: CQ Reviews: The DV4mini, Srebnick (K2DLS), Sep, p. 28
What’s New: Bridgecom Systems DMR Handheld, Amateur Contact
Log 5.7, Feldman (KD2IWM), Nov, p. 46, 88
What’s New: Bridgecom TL-NET LTR Controller, Morse Express 2015
Christmas Key, SOTABEAMS New Patch Cable, Pasternack GaN
Power Amplifiers, Fairview Microwave Waveguide Directional Couplers,
RFMW Qorvo Power Amps, C;ub Score Processor 1.0, Feldman
(KD2IWM), Feb, p. 34, 40, 47, 69, 72, 82, 100,
What’s New: Comet Updates CAA-500 MkII Antenna Analyzer,
Kenwood Teases New D-STAR & APRS Triband Handheld at Dayton,
December 2016 • CQ • 107
Elecraft KX-2, Yaesu FT-891, Gordon West 2016-2020 Extra Class
Study Manual, Feldman (KD2IWM), Jul, p. 44, 66, 73, 79, 82
What’s New: Dxtreme Station Log 12, Morse Express Christmas Key
2016, CommRadio CTX-10, QRP J-36 Bug, Feldman (KD2IWM), Dec,
p. 30, 32, 96, 103
What’s New: DZKit Sienna XL, ARRL Storm Spotting and Extra Class
Study Books, Feldman (KD2IWM), Aug, p. 72, 77
What’s New: Hobbico Channel for R/C Enthusiasts, Yaesu FTM-3200
DR, Feldman (KD2IWM), May, p. 87, 88
What’s New: Illumi Smartstrip Addressable Outdoor LEDs,
SOTABeams audio filter modules, Feldman (KD2IWM), Sep, p. 52, 58
What’s New: MFJ Cobweb Antenna, RFinder Coverage Maps, N3FJP
Software Updates, Feldman (KD2IWM), Jun, p. 60, 66, 92
What’s New: Pasternack Cable Creator, N3FJP API Development,
DX Engineering Now Distributor for Low Band Systems, Feldman
(KD2IWM), Apr, p. 24, 52, 75
What’s New: SOTABeams heavy-duty wire, Fairview Microwave
electromechanical switches, RFMW Couplers, Feldman (KD2IWM),
Mar, p. 36, 71, 83
What’s New: W1SFR Portable Key, Anderson Power Products New
Connectors, CQWW DX RTTY Contest Log 1.0, Vibroplex Acquires
Inrad, DX Engineering Offers Larsen Antennas, SOTABEAMS Miniature
Antenna Traps, DXtreme Reception Log X, Sky Sat Genius Product
Line, Feldman (KD2IWM) Jan, p. 30, 34, 46, 46, 48, 79, 95, 98
What’s New: Yaesu Updates FT-991 to FT-991A, SOTABeams
Amp/Enclosure Kit for Laserbeam-Dual Filter Modules, FlexRadio
Systems & DL8MRE SmartSDR for iOS, Feldman (KD2IWM), Oct, p.
56, 62, 74
PROPAGATION
Learning Curve: Space Weather – What it is and Why You Should
Care, Ochu (KOØZ), Mar, p. 74
Propagation: Cracks in the Magnetosphere, Hood (NW7US), Feb,
p. 106
Propagation: Cycle 24 is Dying!, Hood (NW7US), Dec, p. 100
Propagation: Fair Conditions Predicted for 2016 CQWWDX SSB
Contest, Hood (NW7US), Oct, p. 107
Propagation: Fair Conditions Predicted for CQWW DX CW Contest
2016, Hood (NW7US), Nov, p. 97
Propagation: Field Day Propagation: Don’t Get Your Hopes Up, Hood
(NW7US), Jun, p. 107
Propagation: Good Overall Conditions Predicted for 2016, Hood
(NW7US), Jan, p. 107
Propagation: Gray-Line Propagation, Hood (NW7US), Mar, p. 98
Propagation: Higher-Frequency Hope in May, Hood (NW7US), May,
p. 84
Propagation: Obsessed With Spots, Hood (NW7US), Aug, p. 99
Propagation: Solar Cycle 24 and Science, Hood (NW7US), Sep,
p. 94
Propagation: Space Weather and You, Hood (NW7US), Jul, p. 91
Propagation: The Season of Lights (Aurora), Hood (NW7US), Apr,
p. 87
Tuning Up for 630-Meter Reception Using Aircraft Beacons, Elias
(N3AIU), Dec. p. 18
VHF Plus: Two-Meter Propagation, Emanuele (WA8RJF), Feb, p. 102
PUBLIC SERVICE & EMERGENCY
CQ World Wide: South Africa Trains for an Emergency, Restricts
Licenses, Smerk (AA6TS), Feb, p. 59
Emergency Communications: “Potpourri,” Sickles (WA3UVV), Apr,
p. 44
Emergency Communications: “Sorry, We’re Open,” Sickles (WA3UVV),
Jul, p. 50
Emergency Communications: “Supermarket Sweep,” Sickles
(WA3UVV), Mar, p. 46
Emergency Communications: Dayton in the Rearview Mirror – Part I,
Sickles (WA3UVV), Aug, p. 50
Emergency Communications: Dayton in the Rearview Mirror – Part II,
Sickles (WA3UVV), Sep, p. 43
Emergency Communications: Failing to Plan = Planning to Fail,
Sickles (WA3UVV), Feb, p. 55
Emergency Communications: Have Radio, Will Travel, Sickles
(WA3UVV), Jan, p. 61
Emergency Communications: In Adversity, There is Opportunity,
Sickles (WA3UVV), Nov, p. 40
Emergency Communications: Sharable Resources, Sickles
(WA3UVV), May, p. 40
108 • CQ • December 2016
Emergency Communications: The Evolution of VHF+ and EmComm,
Sickles (WA3UVV), Oct, p. 50
Emergency Communications: The Sound of Silence, Sickles
(WA3UVV), Jun, p. 68
Emergency Communications: Working Within Your Limitations,
Sickles (WA3UVV), Dec, p. 64
EYEWARN: A Visual Situation Reporting Network, Kuhlman
(KD7RUS), Oct, p. 16
Learning Curve: Getting Started with Emergency and Public Service
Communications, Ochu (KOØZ), Jun, p. 71
N7C: Celebrating the Navajo Code Talkers, Davies (K7BHM), Dec,
P. 50
NPOTA at Great Falls: The Fair Lawn ARC’s 60th Anniversary Special
Event, Efchak (W2XR), Oct, p. 27
Putting the “HAMster” to Work for EmComm and More, Lewis (N5XO),
Oct, p. 24
Quiet Rebirth of MARS, The – Part I, Sexton (N1IN), Mar, p. 27
Quiet Rebirth of MARS, The – Part II, Sexton (N1IN), Jun, p. 54
Quiet Rebirth of MARS, The – Part III, Sexton (N1IN), Sep, p. 24
Three Events, Five Cities, One Week – Ohio’s EmComm Hams Meet
the Challenge, Broadway (N8BHL), Oct, p. 10
Voice, Data, Video: Club Uses What’s Needed in Emergency
Response, Cardon (W7QL), Oct, p. 20
QRP (LOW POWER)
Bicycle QRP MiniDXpedition to Albania, Kovaceski (Z35M), Jun,
p. 10
Building the ozQRP MDT QRP DSB Transceiver, Purdum (W8TEE),
Sep, p. 32
Chasing (and Setting) a CQWW QRP Record on 160, Mohr
(SMØMDG/SEØX), Feb, p. 32
First QRP Rig, My, Fluxe (W4LSV), Apr, p. 66
Kit-Building: The Rockmite ][ - An Updated Classic QRP Kit, Eisenberg
(KØNEB), Feb, p. 70
Learning Curve: Life is Too Short Not to QRP, Ochu (KOØZ), Jan,
p. 75
My QRP Life, Hiers (AA4GA), Feb, p. 10
Portugal and Ireland), Minkoff (NK6A), Feb, p. 14
QRP “Newbie” Takes on the CQWW SSB DX Contest, A, Manning
(WB3D), Apr, p. 26
QRP Maritime Mobile on Cruise Ships, Kato (AH6CY), Jun, p. 38
QRP Snapshot: KF7ET, Callahan (KF7ET), Feb, p. 35
QRP: Aspiring to the Low-Power Challenge, Rought (KA8SMA), Aug,
p. 62
QRP: Even QRP Fanatics Sometimes Cheat, Lazar (W4DNN), Apr,
p. 62
QRP: Improving QRP Station Efficiency, Rought (KA8SMA), Dec,
p. 73
QRP: Mega Antenna Transforms QRP Into QRO, Lazar (W4DNN),
Jun, p. 84
QRP: QRP and a Small Magnetic Loop Antenna, Lazar (W4DNN),
Feb, p. 63
QRP: The Do’s and Don’ts of QRP Contesting, Rought (KA8SMA),
Oct, p. 58
Sardines, Wine, Whiskey, Cows and a Radio (QRP DXpedition to
The Paraset: a WWII Spy Radio You Can Build (The Ultimate QRP
Transceiver), Kato (AH6CY), Feb, p. 19
The Tuna Tiny Spy Radio – A Modern Version of the Paraset,
Giammanco (N5IB), Feb, p. 26
W0RW’s Top Ten List for Portable QRP Success, Signorelli (W0RW),
Jun, p. 16
What’s In Your Basement? Lawn (W2JAZ), Feb, p. 30
SHORTWAVE LISTENING
Listening Post: A Bevy of New Broadcasters, Dexter, Nov, p. 36
Listening Post: Add One More New Station On the Air, Dexter, Sep,
p. 40
Listening Post: All India Radio Possibly Shutting Down, Dexter, Jul,
p. 42
Listening Post: Australia’s Northern Territory Shortwave Service’s
Death Greatly Exaggerated, Dexter, Dec, p. 52
Listening Post: Good News for a Change, Dexter, Jan, p. 52
Listening Post: ISIS Off the Air, Dexter, Apr, p. 40
Listening Post: ISIS On the Air, Dexter, Mar, p. 42
Listening Post: It’s Official: All India Radio Off the Air, Dexter, Aug,
p. 44
Listening Post: Madagascar World Voice Debuts on Shortwave,
Dexter, Jun, p. 64
Visit Our Web Site

>ÌiÕÀÊ,>`
Listening Post: Thomas P. Harrington, W8OMV, SK, Dexter, Feb,
p. 51
Listening Post: Uganda Diaspora Radio’s One-Hit-Wonder
Appearance on Shortwave, Dexter, May, p. 36
Listening Post: Voice of Indonesia Disappearing and Reappearing
Act, Dexter, Oct, p. 46

SPACE/SATELLITES
CQ World Wide: “Look! Up in the Sky!” Smerk (AA6TS), Apr, p. 67

TECHNICAL DATA
Contesting: Eliminating Transmitted “Crud,” Siddall (K3ZJ), Jan,
p. 102
Digital Connection: The Global Positioning System (GPS), Rotolo
(N2IRZ), Jan, p. 80
Homing In: Foxboxes – All You Need to Know, Moell (K0OV), May,
p. 56
Introduction to Microcontrollers, An (Part IV), Titus (KZ1G) Jan, p. 32
Introduction to Microcontrollers, An (Part V), Titus (KZ1G) Mar, p. 32
Introduction to Microcontrollers, An (Part VI), Titus (KZ1G) May, p. 28
Introduction to Microcontrollers, An (Part VII), Titus (KZ1G) Jul, p. 30
Math’s Notes: AC Line Safety and Measurements, Math (WA2NDM), /iÊ
VÌÛiÊ>½Ã
Nov, p. 34
Math’s Notes: Bargain Test Equipment – Part 2, Math (WA2NDM),
Jan, p. 50
>}>âi
Math’s Notes: Dropping Voltages Inexpensively, Math (WA2NDM),
Mar, p. 40 #1 is the magazine for
Math’s Notes: Energy Harvesting, Math (WA2NDM), Oct, p. 44
Math’s Notes: Food for Thought (Ultraviolet communications), Math
active hams, with a focus
(WA2NDM), Jun, p. 62 on the practical. Every
Math’s Notes: Logic Gates – Not Just for Software, Math (WA2NDM), article is clearly written
Jul, p. 38
Math’s Notes: Passive Antenna Investigations, Math (WA2NDM), Sep,
and aimed at involving
p. 38 you, the reader...whether
Math’s Notes: Simple Voltage Measuring Circuits, Math (WA2NDM), it’s a story of operating  `
-«iV >ÞÊ
Aug, p. 42
Math’s Notes: The CK-722, Math (WA2NDM), Feb, p. 48
from some exotic
Math’s Notes: Unusual Optical Communications, Math (WA2NDM), location, an article to >t
Apr, p. 38 deepen your understanding of
Math’s Notes: Voltage Conversion, Math (WA2NDM), May, p. 34
Radio Manuals (and other PDFs) on Your iPhone 6, Steinhoff (W7UP),
ham radio science and technology, or a
Jun, p. 50 fun-to-build project that will have practical use
in your ham shack.
VHF
A Towering Repeater: The W4IZ Dames Point Expedition, Williams
(N4UF), Jan, p. 90 Join us on our monthly journey through the broad
Contesting: Remote Contesting, Two Pioneers, and Summer and varied landscape of the world’s most
VHF/UHF Contests, Siddall (K3ZJ), Jun, p. 95 fascinating hobby. Subscribe today!
Gordo’s Short Circuits: Doctor 10 (GHz) is In, West (WB6NOA), Nov,
p. 74
Propagation: The Season of Lights (Aurora), Hood (NW7US), Apr,
p. 87

+ÊÃÊ>Û>>LiÊÊ
Results of the 2015 CQ World Wide VHF Contest, Bolia (N8BJQ), Jan,
p. 20
L ÌÊ«ÀÌÊ>`Ê`}Ì>Êi`Ì ÃtÊ
VHF Plus: .52 or Not .52 … That is the Question, Emanuele (WA8RJF), /iÊV ViÊÃÊÞ ÕÀÃt
Jan, p. 88
VHF Plus: A Trio of Moonbounce Expeditions, Emanuele (WA8RJF),
Nov, p. 79
Available in Print and Digital Editions
VHF Plus: Another VHF Plus Internet Tool, Emanuele (WA8RJF), May, Buy BOTH and SAVE!!!!
p. 81
VHF Plus: Central States Celebrates a Half Century, Emanuele USA Print Digital Both
(WA8RJF), Oct, p. 88 12 issues $36.95 $25.00 $53.95
VHF Plus: Meteor Scatter, Emanuele (WA8RJF), Aug, p. 79 24 issues $66.95 $48.00 $98.95
VHF Plus: New DX Record on 47 GHz, Emanuele (WA8RJF), Sep,
p. 74
36 issues $96.95 $71.00 $142.95
VHF Plus: The Non-ARRL UHF Contest, Emanuele (WA8RJF), Dec,
p. 86 DIGITAL ONLY!
VHF Plus: Spotlight on the 1.25-Meter Band, Emanuele (WA8RJF), 12 issues $25.00 24 issues $48.00 36 issues $71.00
Mar, p. 81
VHF Plus: The 13-Centimeter Band (and the Scratchi Connection),
Emanuele (WA8RJF), Jul, p. 74 CQ Communications, Inc.
VHF Plus: Two-Meter Propagation, Emanuele (WA8RJF), Feb, p. 102
VHF Plus: VHF Super Conference Draws Over 200 VHF Devotees to
17 West John Street
Virginia, Emanuele (WA8RJF), Jun, p. 100 Hicksville, New York 11801
VHF Plus: What’s In Your Toolbox? Emanuele (WA8RJF), Apr, p. 70 516-681-2922
http://store.cq-amateur-radio.com

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2016 • CQ • 109

 ham shop
Advertising Rates: Non-commercial ads are 20 cents per word including abbreviations and addresses. Commercial and orga-
nization ads are $1.00 per word. Boldface words are $1.50 each (specify which words). Minimum charge $2.00. No ad will be
printed unless accompanied by full remittance. All ads must be typewritten double-spaced.
Closing Date: The 10th day in the third month preceding date of publication (example: Jan. 10th for the March issue). Because
the advertisers and equipment contained in Ham Shop have not been investigated, the Publisher of CQ cannot vouch for the
merchandise listed therein. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement. Direct all correspondence and ad
copy to: CQ Ham Shop, 17 west John Street, Hicksville, NY 11801 (fax: 516-681-2926; e-mail: <hamshop@cq-amateur-
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in box good condition! W.J. Gibbs, Jr. 601 Howard
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WANTED: IBM Model M, Space Saving Keyboard, Call KØKG,
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AMATEUR RADIO ELECTRONICS: Home Study Software,
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POLYESTER ROPE: excellent for antenna support and
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“QRZ DX”—since 1979: Available as an Adobe PDF file each
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At www.HamRadioExpress.com we know you can’t afford to
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TWO NEW NOVELS involving ham radio: Full Circle, and
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QSLing SUPPLIES. e-mail: <plumdx@msn.com>.
CASH FOR COLLINS, HALLICRAFTERS SX-88, & DRAKE
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OVERSEAS AIRMAIL POSTAGE plus complete line of airmail
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TOWER ACCESSORIES Gin Pole Kits – stand off brackets –
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HOMEBREW! “Recollections of a Radio Receiver” a 565 page
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FREE 2-meter Repeater Frequencies for Travelers by Western
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110 • CQ • December 2016
WANTED: VACUUM TUBES – Commercial, industrial, ama-
teur. Radio Daze, LLC, 7620 Omnitech Place, Victor, NY 14506
USA (phone 585-742-2020; fax 800-456-6494; e-mail:
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ARMS – Amateur Radio Missionary Net. Christian Fellowship
Net, Everyone Welcome. 14.3075 Daily except Sunday
1500–1700Z, –1 Hr DST. Website: www.qsl.net/arms
www.oldqslcards.com
NEAT STUFF! DWM Communications: <http://qth.com/dwm>
DXPEDITION DVD VIDEOS: For full description and how to
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HAM RADIO PARADISE in the Pacific (NA-072) for sale. See
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VORTEX ANTENNA SYSTEMS specialist in HF and VHF high
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including North America. <www.vortexantennas.co.uk/>. or by
e-mail to <enquiries@vortexantennas.co.uk>.
WANTED: HAM EQUIPMENT AND RELATED ITEMS. Donate
your excess gear—new, old, in any condition—to the Radio Club
of Junior High School 22, the Nation’s only full time non-profit
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WB2JKJ Classroom Net, 7.238 MHz, 1200–1330 UTC daily and
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“World of Keys – Keys III” book features highly detailed views
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PACKET RADIO AND MORE! Join TAPR, connect with the
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HONDURAS DX VACATION: K3, Alpha 86, SteppIR, Meals,
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PROMOTIONAL VIDEO: 15-minute DVD describes amateur
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WANTED: OLD QSL CARD COLLECTIONS. Collector seeks
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HAM RADIO CLUB WEBSITES & NEWSLETTERS: Domain
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Wanna ham in the CAYMAN ISLANDS?” Go to <www.
martykaiser.com/24a.htm>.
HF Mobile or Fixed Virtual X Antenna Patent: For Sale or
License. Request Free Power Point Presentation file. Shows
design details, pictures, prototype tests. Design applies to a
broad frequency range for mant antenna arrays/beams/verti-
cals. <lgslay@sbcglobal.net>. Larry Slay, K5WUL
WANTED: Good 8236 Pentode Electron Tubes for my trans-
mitter. What price each do you need and how many can I order?
Dave at 281-781-5955 or <fullerphone7150@yahoo.com>.
FOR SALE: Samlex Power Supply Model SEC 1223, 13.8V
@ 25 amps. Not working. Includes operating manual and
schematic. Price $50 or best offer. Contact Harry, W9HRQ, at
<harrygraziano@gmail.com> or phone 1-773-334-4492.
4 land electronics dealership for sale. serious enquiries only
<electronicsdealer73@gmail.com>
YAESU FT-840, has FM-747 FM unit, YF-112A 6 kHz AM fil-
ter and manual. Problem with main tuning, otherwise good
$150. FC-800 1.8-30 MHz 150W remote ATU for FT-840 or
FT-890. wotking with cables and manual, $125. Shipping
additinal. KB2DMD, (215) 541-1099.
Lee Shaklee W6BH (Shaklee products) passed away in 2013.
His 20 acre RADIO RANCH mountain top remote operation
located in southern California is for sale. Contact Ted Halter
at (951) 316-6777 for further information.
ANTENNA & TOWER HARDWARE: Aluminum plates:Boom
to elements, boom to mast, GP/ Vertical antennaground plates,
Rohn 25/45 to cross arms plates, Hexabeam / spiderbeam
Hubs, Moxon hubs, U bolts with sadles. All info at: e78WW@
yahoo.com or at e-bay store:: stores.ebay.com/yz4izØ
GET THE F.C.C. “COMMERCIAL” RADIOTELEPHONE
LICENSE! Fast, inexpensive home study course. Command
Productions. www.LicenseTraining.com. Free info: (800)
932-4268.
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For ,&20 IC-T90A/E; 91A/D, 80AD: &3/ DC Chg cord 
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Global TSCM Group Inc. ................71 www.kn2c.us %3/ FHOO $$%DWWHU\FDVH+L:DWW 
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For .(1:22' TH-D72A/E: (CP-KE12: DC Pwr & Chg cord: $19.95)

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Mayberry Sales & Service, Inc........65 www.mayberrys.com (06.'URSLQ5DSLG&KDUJHUIRU3%/;/ 

For .(1:22' TH-G71/K, TH-D7A/AG/E: &3 '&3ZUFRUG 

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QCWA.............................................46 www.qcwa.org %7FHOO$$%DWWHU\&DVH 

3%[ 1L0+EDWWHU\ YP$K 
RF Parts..........................................23 www.rfparts.com For .(1:22' TH-77A/E,75A/E,55A/E,46AT/(,45AT,26A/E,25A/E:


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For .(1:22' TH-205A/E,215A/E,225A,315A: (Wall Charger $12.95)

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1-800-308-4805
)D[(PDLO VDOHV#EDWWHULHVDPHULFDFRP
 Available Now!
ID-51A PLUS2
2m + 70cm Digital D-STAR Handheld

• NEW Terminal Mode

• NEW Access Point Mode
• NEW Limited Edition Colors

ar ly 2 0 17
Co mi ng E
iR8600
Communications Receiver

• Ultra-Wide Frequency Coverage

• Real Time Spectrum Scope
• Decodes Multiple Digital Protocols
• Touch Screen Display

Information & Downloads

AMATEUR TOOL KIT COMIC BOOKS VIDEOS WWW.ICOMAMERICA.COM
*Models are not to scale
Electronic advertisements feature active links.

As of 10/6/16, the IC-R8600 has not been approved by the Federal Communications Commission. This device may not be sold or
leased, or be offered for sale or lease, until approval of the FCC has been obtained. Cellular blocked, see manual for details.
*Frequency coverage may vary. Refer to owner’s manual for exact specifications.
©2016 Icom America Inc. The Icom logo is a registered trademark of Icom Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.
(SSZWLJPÄJH[PVUZHYLZ\IQLJ[[VJOHUNL^P[OV\[UV[PJLVYVISPNH[PVU
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