Monitoring Times magazine
With 34 years in the hobby, I’ve read and subscribed to most of the ham-related magazines at one time or another – QST, QRP Quarterly, CQ, 73, etc.
All of them have something to offer in each issue but years ago (has it been 15?) I picked up a copy of Monitoring Times at a newstand and read the thing in its entirety; an easy thing to do back then with perhaps a dozen or so pages. The appearance of the magazine on the news rack made it stand out among all the glossy covers – one glance would tell you that this was a grass roots effort.
Today, a typical issue of MT has 75 pages and a full-color cover but, more importantly, each issue is absolutely packed with interesting content. I’m amazed monthly at the consistency of topical, well-written articles that run the range from how-to’s to equipment reviews and human interest.
Some of it is basic, for the new ham or shortwave listener; other articles keep OT’s like me informed on the new technologies and new ways of using radio, watching TV or utilizing parts of the spectrum that I’d otherwise ignore.
Enthusiasm really is contagious and it is evident in the articles written by the many columnists and other authors each month. Osmosis – from the printed page to my imagination/planning book.
As I write this, music is streaming from Pandora via a Logitech Squeezebox I purchased after reading Loyd W4LVH’s review a few months ago and I’m pondering the feasibility of a lowband gain antenna for the upcoming DX season, not due to an article in a ham magazine but from the combined effect of numerous articles in MT.
Maybe I should send them a bill…
UPDATE: Check out next month’s ham-themed issue, including a bit on QRP.
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Themocracy
I hope you enjoyed the piece on VOA’s Murrow site. I will never forget that tour. Amazing place, amazing people.
Thomas
k4swl
I sure did, Thomas – the first article I read in this issue…interesting and well-written, it propelled me on to W8JI’s site to get more details on the curtain antennas you mentioned and now has me pondering something more do-able here – a Lazy H for 40m. A typical sequence of events when I read something interesting & inspiring…
Thanks for the kind comments, John. Those curtain antennas were amazing. I did take note and still think it would be kinda’ fun to build a curtain for the higher bands (17M or, more likely, near 10M). I have space, but these guys would take some serious wire. The Lazy H sounds like a great project! Hope you’ll do it and write up the results. 72, Thomas
I used to see MT on the newsstand and didn’t buy it because I thought it was mostly a shortwave station guide. I finally bought one and discovered the great variety of topics it covered. I’m now a subscriber. I especially like the Radio Restorations column.
Bill N5AB
Same here Bill. I thought it didn’t really apply to experienced hams but the more I read, the more drawn into it I became.
And of course you’re always impressed by how well it’s laid out and its graphics integrity, right? ;) Thank you for all your kind words and a huge thank you to all of our writers who, as you point out, make our magazine truly unique and diverse. Our staff love what they do and it shows in every issue. Thank you for noticing and thank even more for spreading the word. We’ll await that bill. ;)
Bill Grove
Art Director, Monitoring Times Magazine.
Well of course, Bill – the Photoshop side of me appreciates your attention to detail!
Thanks for placating my fishing for compliments!
Bill
Very nice review, John. Thanks for taking the time to do it. We appreciate when it’s solid and objective, especially if it’s complimentary! ;>)
John,
Thank you for the kind words. Hope you are still enjoying that Logitech, I know I am. Hope to get the chance to work each other on HF, now that I am back on the air!
Best,
Loyd, W4LVH
I sure am, Loyd – every day. The quality of the sound out of that thing amazes me still.