CQ Amateur Radio September 2021

SEPTEMBER SHELBY, NORTH CAROLINA—The Shelby Amateur Radio Club will hold the 2021 Shelby Hamfest from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, September 3; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, September 4; and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, September 5 at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 1751 E. Marion Street. Phone: (980) 295-5151. Email: <chairman@shelbyhamfest.org>. Website: <http://shelbyhamfest.org>. Talk-in 146.880-. VE exams. MARLBOROUGH, MASSACHUSSETTS—FEMARA will hold the Northeast HamXposition and 2021 New England Division Convention from Friday, September 10 through Sunday, September 12 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Road W. Website: <hamxposition.org>. VE exams, DX dinner, grand banquet, special event station. NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS—The Northern Illinois DX Association will hold the W9DXCC Convention will be held Friday, September 10 and Saturday, September 11 at the Chicago Marriott…

Milestones: MFJ Production Manager KB5YJF, SK Covid-19 has claimed another member of the amateur radio community and industry. Michael Enis, KB5YJF, became a Silent Key on August 6 at age 53. He was Production Manager for MFJ Enterprises and its Ameritron line of amplifiers. Mike was described in his obituary as “a loving father, son, brother, uncle and fixer of all things.” He is survived by his son, daughter and son-in-law as well as his parents, sister and brother. His was predeceased by his wife, Tammy. Growing Confusion Over Bouvet DXpedition There's bad news, good news and growing confusion on the long-planned (but currently cancelled) 2023 DXpedition to Bouvet Island. The ARRL reported in early August that the Intrepid DX Group had found a "suitable and affordable" vessel whose captain was willing to…

According to the FCC, the Amateur Radio Service exists for five very specific reasons: (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art. (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts. (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s unique ability to enhance international goodwill.1 Every licensed amateur is supposed to know this, having certified that they have read and understood Part 97 of the FCC’s…

What do you call a 16-year-old who’s already a junior in college, has operated ham radio from three continents, has had two articles (so far) published in CQ and has been an ARES net control during three different hurricanes? You call her the 2021 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year, of course! Meet Faith Hannah Lea, KD3Z, of Palm Coast, Florida. A member of an all-ham family, Faith Hannah is the daughter of James, WX4TV, and Michelle, N8ZQZ, Lea. Her brother and two sisters are also hams. Earning her Technician license at age 10, Faith Hannah upgraded to General two weeks later and to Extra two months after that. Less than a yearand-a-half later, she was invited to join the 2016 Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX team operating PJ6 from…

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of CQmagazine or of CQ Communications, Inc. – ed. Cuba is apparently blocking amateur radio frequencies to stop communication inside and from outside of the island nation in the face of political turmoil. Not only is internet access sporadic, but now there is also intentional interference on the 40-meter amateur radio band and it appears to be coming from Cuba. Cuban radio operators communicate regularly with hams in Florida and other areas with large Cuban populations. But as anti-government protests swept through the streets of Cuba in July, something strange was happening on the airwaves. Radio amateurs in the United States discovered that parts of the popular 40-meter band were suddenly being inundated with…

The alleged jamming of ham radio communications by the Cuban government is just the latest “battle” in a “radio war” that has been going on between the U.S. and Cuba for over 60 years. Over that time, it has usually been the UnitedStates doing the transmitting. Noted Argentine DXer and former host of the “DX Monitor” program on Trans World Radio Daniel Camporini offers a brief history. – ed. The seemingly endless confrontation in themedia between the United States and Cuba actually began shortly before the revolution came to power in 1959. During theEisenhower administration, the possibility of the fall of Batista and the triumph of the guerrillaswas anticipated, and planswere established if this were to materialize. This policy of psychological propaganda on the radio began to take effect in 1960 when…