Coming In the May 2002 Edition of Popular Communications

Home

 

Click to see a larger view of the May 2002 Cover

Click to see a larger view of the May 2002 Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home

Coming In The May Issue Of Popular Communications

By Harold Ort, N2RLL, Editor

  • In our changed world, they're still active and spraying. Crop dusters will soon be at work near our Nation's capitol, but there's new set of rules. Get the inside scoop from Keith Stein, AND the frequencies in his article "Monitoring Crop Dusters After Sept. 11"on page 8.

  • Since the early '20s, radio has gone through more curves and changes than a politician on a bobsled. One of the most fascinating aspects of radio's early years is news. This month, writer Donna Halper takes us on a historical journey back some 80 years when many station owners thought radio should only be used for "good music." Her article, News While It WAS News" begins on page 10, and includes some rare photos of radio's early pioneers.

  • It's mostly good news - your letters about Joe Cooper's brand new "Computer Assisted Radio Monitoring" column, this month on page 17. This month Joe answers your letters and explains more ins and outs of this hot topic to keep you radio active!

  • If you're just getting into restoring old classics, you'll quickly find that one of the worst nightmares is a set with busted, missing or severely damaged IF or RF coils. Join the "What Do I Do Now" club. There is help: Peter Bertini's Wireless Connection column - and this month he helps you improvise in the workshop, fixing this dilemma. Check out The Wireless Connection beginning on page 21.

  • You're driving down the highway and it's suddenly gone - hopefully it didn't cause mayhem when it came loose. Your favorite CB, ham or scanner antenna on that SO239 adaptor is history, but there IS a way to keep your next antenna in place for many years. Be sure to read Gordon West's "Radio Resources" column beginning on page 24 and learn how to keep that whip antenna in place.

  • Getting organized is always a good thing - take it from me - one whose desk is always in a perpetual state of wonder. If you have to scramble every time there's a major accident or incident in your hometown or county, there's something wrong. NOW is the time to get it together, so when disaster strikes or you NEED to take that handheld scanner with you, you're ready. For excellent tips and ideas on getting your monitoring post organized read this month's "Overheard" column by Ken Reiss, perhaps the most organized person in this hemisphere. Overheard is appropriately titled, "Emergency Scanning" and it begins on page 26.

  • Satellite radio battles wireless companies, a fellow convicted of interfering with police comms a couple of years ago is back in the news, and cell phone bill action tops the news in this month's Washington Beat by Laura Quarantiello. Check it out beginning on page 32.

  • The SGC SG-2020 with ADSP is one hot transceiver! This month's On-The-Go column is by Ed Muro, who reports on this rig beginning on page 36.

  • Looking for news from practically anywhere in the world? How about sports or music? The place for the stations, times and frequencies is our World Band Tuning Tips, always on page 40.

  • Are you into Broadcast DXing? Why not take your knowledge back to school - bring a good radio, some QSL cards and show the kids there's more to geography, math and science (remember, radio has it ALL!) than books and tests! Go to page 44 and read Bruce Conti's "Broadcast DXing" column, titled, "Introduce Broadcast DXing At Your School!"

  • The Purple Nucleus of Creation, Radio Free Speech and Psycho Radio are all there for the picking. These pirate and alternative radio stations rant and rave, play music and parodies, but there's no real "schedule." You've to rely on a little luck. But there is help if you want to hear pirate activity on shortwave: Ed Teachs' "Pirate & Alternative Radio" column on page 49 this month.

  • With apologies to CW operators, please put down the key for a moment and fire up the computer - and your radio. (Yes, you'll be hearing a LOT more about that aspect of our hobby!) This month's "Ham Discoveries" column by Kirk Kleinschmidt on page 50 is all about today's radio software - and as Kirk says, "it's better than ever!"

  • The international broadcasting landscape continues change. Many would use the word "evolve," but I'd rather think of the Internet as a secondary medium to shortwave broadcasting, not the other way around. Case in point: Kol Israel. As we were ready to go to press the Israeli government began taking another look at Kol Israel, essentially putting a decision to cut most shortwave from that country, on hold. Get this news and tons of your loggings in this month's "Global Information Guide" by Gerry L. Dexter beginning on page 53.

  • CQ Editor, Rich Moseson, W2VU calls Grundig's Mini World 100 PE shortwave (also AM and FM) receiver "A Tiny Radio With Big Rig Performance." See why in his review of this little marvel on page 60.

  • MacDill's Open House has been canceled, but Lakeland's Sun-n-Fun is still scheduled for April 7-13 - perhaps just as our May Pop'Comm hits everyone's mailbox, but if you're planning on going, our Plane Sense columnist, Bill Hoefer has some handy frequencies and news you need BEFORE you hit the road. Check out "Plane Sense" on page 62.

  • What can you get today for $4 a month? Not a heck of a lot, that's for sure. But for only $4 you CAN get the IncidentPage (IPN) Net folks to send you real time emergency messages! If you travel, have loved ones in another part of the country or state, you owe it to yourself to check out my review of IPN on page 65.

  • He's currently Vice President of Sales for Global Wireless, and he's also one of the radiomen who was manning the keys the day KPH sent its last CW message. Meet Walter J. Kane III, who is profiled in this month's Utility Radio Review by Joe Cooper. Complete with photos, it's a great article you won't want to miss! Also, Joe has page upon page of your utility radio loggings beginning on page 66.

  • Just what is pure? It's certainly not my New Jersey water, and it sure isn't the air over Mexico City, but I digress. Let's talk about clandestine radio stations with Gerry Dexter on page 77 and find out what constitutes a "pure" clandestine.

  • The title of this month's "Loose Connection" by Bill Price is "Sending Hot Dogs Via FAX." Now, if you think I'm going to sit here and explain that one to you, before you know it you'll be thinking Billy Tauzin and I go on regular fishing trips together.

Thanks for stopping by our website, and remember, Pop'Comm is YOUR magazine; your loggings, photos and articles are always welcome! See you again next month!

 

Read this month's editorial

Tuning In - Garfield And Moon Come To Radio

_________________

© Copyright 2002, CQ Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or republished, including posting to a website, in part or in whole, by any means, without the express written permission of the publisher, CQ Communications, Inc. Hyperlinks to this page are permitted.