CQ Amateur Radio

CQ is the magazine for active hams, with a focus on the practical. Every article is clearly written and aimed at involving you, the reader...whether it's a story of operating from some exotic location, an article to deepen your understanding of ham radio science and technology, or a fun-to-build project that will have practical use in your ham shack. Join us on our monthly journey through the broad and varied landscape of the world's most fascinating hobby!

CQ Amateur Radio

announcements

ham radio news

zero bias: a cq editorial • Random Thoughts

news bytes: An Early Peak to Cycle 25?

DMR on Land and Sea • Digital Mobile Radio, or DMR, is growing in popularity among hams. One benefit is its ability to use the internet to link repeaters or span long distances. K2ATY offers a step-by-step tutorial to setting up a DMR system to keep you in touch with your local friends while traveling … even from the middle of the ocean!

Will Ecuador Tax Amateur Radio Out of Existence? • A proposed spectrum-use fee in Ecuador is treating hams the same as commerial broadcasters and is threatening to make the cost of amateur licenses out of reach for the majority of the country’s hams. There are fears that neighboring countries may follow suit. Our contributing editor in South America digs in for details.

Results of the 2022 CQ DX Marathon

A Big “Thank You” to John Sweeney, K9EL

JH1AJT–A Winner in So Many Ways

Have Radio, Will Travel • Portable hamming is easier than ever, and our favorite pedestrian-mobile author shares his adventures from a volcano to the seashore.

Experimenting with the Guanella Balun—A CAD Approach • Dave Ahlgren, K1BUK follows up his April 2022 article on using computer modeling to predict performance in 1:1 baluns with a look at applying the same techniques to 4:1 and 9:1 Guanella baluns, along with a guide to winding your own.

The Bramham 60° Balun Impedance Transformer • Baluns and other impedance transformers are often among the least-understood elements of an antenna system. Michael Toia, K3MT, takes us for a test drive in a balun that isn’t really a balun, but is an impedance transformer.

SPURIOUS SIGNALS

The Balun-Theory and Design

Carbon Renaissance • Carbon microphones, like you might find in an old phone or a “boat anchor” ham rig, remain popular among amateurs today, not only for use with vintage radios, but also with modern gear. W3MEO offers an interface circuit for using a carbon mic with a rig designed for an electret element.

CQ Book Review: “The CW Way of Life–Learning, Living and Loving Morse Code (in a Digital World)” • Morse code, says NW6V in his new book, is more than a mode of communicating–it’s a way of life! And who better to review it than a professional telegrapher?

Heatsink Restoration for Old Electronics • An often-overlooked aspect of restoring vintage gear (especially of the solid-state variety) is the importance of assuring solid connections between heat-generating components and their respective heat sinks. K8BYP has a guide to guaranteeing good heat transfer in restoring older solid-state equipment.

Coming Ashore for an Island Dinner • If you can’t make an island DXpedition yourself, the next best thing is to hear about a few directly from participants. And that’s a big part of the fun of attending a DX convention, such as the annual International DX Convention in Visalia, California.

Introducing “IBP Beacon NOW” • One easy way to check out worldwide propagation conditions on THE HF bands is to tune in to the International Beacon Project’s beacon frequency on each band and determine which of the beacons scattered around the world you can hear. JF1RWZ has a webpage that will help you identify which station is transmitting when, even if you...