COVID-19 Coverage Starts on page 3 http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com $6.99 COMMUNICATIONS &TECHNOLOGY C MAY 2020 TS-890AdCQ.qxp_Layout 1 3/18/19 9:08 AM Page 1 rd 3 IMDR 110 dB* RMDR 122 dB* BDR 150 dB* The most happy and sublime encounters happen in the worst Performance circumstances and under the harshest conditions. There are enthusiasts who know this all too well because of Exceeding their love of HF radio. Results born of certainty and not circumstance. Delivered Expectations. through impeccable performance. This is our offering to you. "The Kenwood TS-890S has the highest RMDR of any radio I have ever measured." - Rob Sherwood - NC0B - December 2018 HF/50MHz TRANSCEIVER Top-class receiving performance 4 kinds of built-in roofing filters TS-890S 3 kinds of dynamic range make for top-class performance. 500Hz / 2.7kHz / 6kHz / 15kHz (270Hz Option) Third order intermodulation Dynamic Range (3rd IMDR) 110dB* 7 inch Color TFT Display NEW ▶ Reciprocal Mixing Dynamic Range (RMDR) 122dB* Roofing frequency sampling band scope ▶ Blocking Dynamic Range (BDR) 150dB* ▶ Band scope auto-scroll mode ▶ ▶ *Values are measured examples. (2kHz spacing:14.1 MHz, CW, BW 500 Hz, Pre Amp OFF) Multi-information display including filter scope ▶ Clean and tough 100W output Full Down Conversion RX Built-in high-speed automatic antenna tuner ▶ High Carrier to Noise Ratio 1st LO ▶ H-mode mixer 32-bit floating-point DSP for RX / TX and Bandscope ▶ *: 2 kHz spacing measurement standard - Receiver frequency 14.2 MHz, MODE CW, BW 500 Hz, PRE AMP OFF Customer Support: (310) 639-4200 ADS#11919 BEST SERVICE. BEST WARRANTY. BEST VALUE. NO ONE BEATS LDG! CONTACT YOUR FAVORITE DEALER TODAY! Not sure which tuner design does what? It’s confusing for everyone. Check out this handy chart of popular tuner configurations made with capacitors and variable or tapped inductors. Each one has its useful place in the Ham shack. LDG Tuners are Switched-L Networks for a balance of efficiency, size and tuning range. Visit www.ldgelectronics.com to learn more and see our full line of Ham Radio accessories. Pi Network T-Match Widest Range. Used mainly for long wire and ladder line Most versatile. Typically two variable 470 pF capacitors one 10 uH matching with its 100:1 SWR tuning range. Variable capacitors of variable or tapped inductor. Popular for manual desktop matching 200pF and 470pF are obtainable through surplus, but large 20 µH due to its 60:1 SWR range. Prone to False tunes. The variable variable inductor values increases size and cost capacitors must be insulated from enclosure ground. Balanced Switched-L Lowest loss, but it has the most parts and makes it the most Most popular. Lowest parts count allows for smallest size and expensive. The 20 uH inductors must be synchronized to turn at portable operation. One 10 uH inductor, one 4000 pF capacitor, the same time and a 1:1 balun is used. Excellent for 450 ohm and one Hi/Lo-Z switch. A medium 10:1 range limits tuning on Ladder-Line and other balanced feedlines. antennas with very high SWR. 410-586-2177 [email protected] www.ldgelectronics.com ANNOUNCEMENTS EDITORIAL STAFF Richard S. Moseson, W2VU, Editor Jason Feldman, KD2IWM, Managing Editor Susan Moseson, Editorial Consultant COVID-19 UPDATE CONTRIBUTING EDITORS As of presstime, the COVID-19 pandemic has radically altered plans for any social gather- Kent Britain, WA5VJB, Antennas ing and hamfests and ham radio-related conferences are taking a huge hit, especially with the Gerry L. Dexter, The Listening Post cancellation of the Dayton Hamvention. We are urging all readers to please check with the Joe Eisenberg, KØNEB, Kit-Building organizers of these events to ensure the event will still be held. Tony Emanuele, K8ZR, VHF Tomas Hood, NW7US, Propagation Jim Houser, WA8JIM, Awards John Langridge, KB5NJD, MF/LF Operating MAY Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, Microcontrollers Irwin Math, WA2NDM, Math’s Notes Ø CEDARBURG, WISCONSIN — The Ozaukee Radio Club will hold the 42nd Annual Spring Joe Moell, K OV, Homing In Eric Nichols, KL7AJ, Analog Adventures Indoor Swapfest from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, May 2 at Columbia St. Mary’s Center, W67N866 Ron Ochu, KOØZ, Learning Curve Washington Avenue. Contact: Tom Trethewey, KC9ONY, (262) 346-3751. Website: <www.ozau- Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, Mobile/Radio Magic keeradioclub.org>. Talk-in 146.97- (PL 127.3). Scott Rought, KA8SMA, QRP DALLAS, TEXAS — The Fannin County Amateur Radio Club will air special event station Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, Digital K5E from Treasure Island in Lake Texoma from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST, Saturday, May 2. Rob de Santos, K8RKD, Communications Horizons Bob Schenck, N2OO, DX Frequencies include: 28.415, 14.265, 7.265, 3.815 MHz using FT4. QSL a SASE to Fannin County David Siddall, K3ZJ, Contesting ARC, P.O. Box 553, Bonham, TX 75418. Website: <www.k5frc.org>. Jason Togyer, KB3CNM, Spurious Signals SIERRA VISTA, ARIZONA — The Cochise Amateur Radio Association will hold the Cochise Gordon West, WB6NOA, Short Circuits Hamfest and 7th Area Communications Exercise from 7 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 2 at 2756 Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ, The Ham Notebook S. Moson Road. Contact: Tom, KEØABP, <[email protected]>. Website: <www.k7rdg.org>. Talk- in 146.76-+ (PL 162.2). VE exams. AWARD MANAGEMENT SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN — The Arrowhead Radio Amateur Club will hold its HAM FEST! John Bergman, KC5LK, WAZ Award Brian Bird, NXØX, USA-CA Custodian from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday. May 2 at the Head of Lakes Fairgrounds – Multi Purpose Building, Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, WPX Award 4700 Tower Avenue. Contact: Robert Schultz, KCØNFB, (218) 481-7458. Email: <arac_ham- Keith Gilbertson, KØKG, CQ DX Award [email protected]>. Website: <www.thearac.org>. Talk-in 146.940- (PL 103.5), 147.000- (PL 103.5), or 146.940- (PL 114.8). VE exams, card checking. CONTEST MANAGEMENT MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK — The Orange County Amateur Radio Club will hold its Spring Andy Blank, N2NT, CQ 160 Meter Contest John Dorr, K1AR, CQWW DX Contest Hamfest from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m, Sunday, May 3 at the Town of Wallkill Community Center, 2 JK Kalenowsky, K9JK, CQ VHF Contest Wes Warren Drive. Phone: (845) 391-3620. Website: <www.ocarcny.org>. Talk-in 146.76 (PL Ed Muns, WØYK, CQ RTTY Contests 100). VE exams. John Sweeney, K9EL, CQ DX Marathon DADE CITY, FLORIDA — The East Pasco Amateur Radio Society will hold the Hamfest Randy Thompson, K5ZD, CQWW WPX Contest Tailgate in the Park from 7 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 9 at the American Legion in Dade City, BUSINESS STAFF 37746 Church Avenue. Website: <http://eparsonline.org>. VE exams. Richard A. Ross, K2MGA, Publisher REIDSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA — The Rockingham County Amateur Radio Club will Dorothy Kehwieder, Associate Publisher, hold the 16th Annual Rockingham County Swapfest from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 9 at the Advertising Community Baptist Church, 509 Triangle Road. Contact: Paul Patterson, (336) 548-2027 or Roger Richard S. Moseson, W2VU, Associate Publisher, Joyner (336) 549-1222. Website: <www.n4iv.org>. Talk-in 147.345 (PL 103.5). Editorial th Emily Leary, Sales Coordinator GOSHEN, CONNECTICUT — The Southern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club will hold its 29 Doris Watts, Accounting Department Annual Hamfest from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 16 at the Goshen Connecticut Fairgrounds, 116 Old Middle Street. Contact: Don, KB2SMZ, (845) 373-7035 or Lee, K1LEE, (860) 435-0051. CIRCULATION STAFF Website: <www.sberk.org>. Talk-in 147.285+ (PL 77). VE exams. Cheryl DiLorenzo, Customer Service Manager PINELLAS PARK, FLORIDA — The Glorious Society of the Wormhole will hold the 2020 PRODUCTION STAFF Wormfest beginning 7 a.m., Saturday May 23 at the Freedom Lake Park, on the SE corner of US 19 and 49th Street. Contact: Mike Scott (727) 492-6454. Email: <[email protected]>. Talk- Elizabeth Ryan, Art Director Dorothy Kehrwieder, Production Director in 146.850- (146.2). Emily Leary, Production Manager WEST FRIENDSHIP, MARYLAND — The Maryland FM Association will hold its Memorial Hal Keith, Illustrator Day Hamfest from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, May 24 at the Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Larry Mulvehill, WB2ZPI, Staff Photographer Fairgrounds Road. Phone: (301) 641-5313 (between 6-10 p.m.). Email: <marylandfm@veri- zon.net>. Website: <www.marylandfm.org>. Talk-in 146.16+, 223.16+, or 449.00- (PL 107.2 for A publication of all frequencies). VE exams. CQ Communications, Inc. DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA — The Durham FM Association will hold the 46th Annual 17 West John Street DurHamFest from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, May 30 at the Durham Public Schools Staff Hicksville, NY 11801 USA. Development Center, 2107 Hillandale Road. Contact: Dee Ramm, KU4GC, (919) 257-1098. CQ Amateur Radio (ISSN 0007-893X) Volume 76, No. 5. Email: <[email protected]>. Website: <http://dfma.org>. VE exams. Published monthly by CQ Communications, Inc., 17 West John PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA — The Twin Cities FM Club will hold its Spring Tailgate Swap Street, Hicksville, NY 11801, Telephone 516-681-2922. E-mail: [email protected]. Fax 516-681-2926. Web site: Fest beginning 8 a.m., Saturday, May 30 at the West Medicine Lake Community Center. 1705 www.cq-amateur-radio.com. Periodicals Postage Paid at Forestview Lane North. Email: <[email protected]> or <[email protected]>. Website: Hicksville, NY 11801 and at additional mailing offices. <http://tcfmc.org>. Talk-in 146.76 (PL 114.8). 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