In This Issue

 

Technical

6-Meter Halo Antenna forDXing 30

Jerry Clement, VE6AB

This classic mobile antenna is horizontally polarized.

A Panadapter for Your Transceiver or Receiver 34

Jim Kocsis,WA9PYH

View your IF bandwidth on your PC, tablet, or smartphone using plug-together parts and SDR software.

A WSPR Receiver for 30 Meters 39

Derwyn "Will" Williams, ZL4SAE

Build a dedicated receiver for beacon monitoring.

A Resonant Speaker for CW 43

Bill Sepulveda, K5LN

This acoustic design makes listening a pleasure.

Considerations for Audio Oscillators 46

Klaus Spies, WB9YBM

Digital audio oscillators are not always the best answer.

Get Ready for the Solar Minimum 48

Steve Ford, WB8IMY

Yes, we're heading for the bottom of the solar cycle. No, it won't be the end of the world.

Product Review 53

Mark Wilson, K1RO

FlexRadio Systems FLEX-6500 SDR Transceiver and Updated SmartSDR for Windows Software; SDRplay RSP1 Radio Spectrum Processor; Pacific Antenna Easy TR Switch Kit; Hamcrafters K16 Keyer Kit.

News and Features

Second Century 9

Tom Gallagher, NY2RF

A Neighborhood of Broken Windows

Intro to Twitter 73

Jen Glifort

A look at the social media platform where thoughts are expressed in 140 characters.

To the Edge of Space

and Back with Ham Radio 76

Chase Mertz, KG5KKX

Student engineers in the Eldorado Space Program design, build, and program instrument packages, sending them as high as 120,000 feet using a high-altitude weather balloon.

Rebuilding the West Point Cadet Amateur Radio Club - W2KGY 79

Matthew Sherburne, KF4WZB

Even without a radio station, W2KGY strives to provide public service through Amateur Radio.

The Solar Eclipse QSO Party 82

Ward Silver, N0AX

Put a big red circle on August 211

National Parks on the Air— February 2017 85

Sean Kutzko, KX9X

The National Parks on the Air event hit 1 million contacts in December. Congratulations to all the Activators and Chasers who made this possible!

Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award 86

Sean Kutzko, KX9X

Honor a ham's PR efforts to the non-amateur community.

Happenings 87

RickLindquist,WW1ME

The Amateur Radio Parity Act reaches the end of its journey through the 114th Congress; Greg Walden, W7EQI, named Chair of the US House Energy and Commerce Committee; FCC news; awards news; more.

Radiosport

Contest Corral 97

Bruce Draper, AA5B

2016 ARRLlOGHz

and Up Contest Results 98

Jeff Wadsworth, KI5WL

Give the microwave bands a try — and expand your knowledge along the way.