1971 08 00 73 Magazine - DX from the stars

Magazine Overview

Title: AMATEUR RADIO 73
Issue: #131
Date: August 1971
Price: One Dollar

This issue of Amateur Radio 73 magazine features a striking cover image of a sailboat, with the headline "A 73 DXpedition? K4MJZ SAILS THE CARIBBEAN". The magazine contains a personal narrative by Ron Fox WN4ONW detailing an unusual encounter with a UFO, alongside numerous advertisements for electronic components and equipment.

DX From The Stars

The lead article, "DX FROM THE STARS", is written by Ron Fox WN4ONW. He recounts an experience that occurred on a Friday night in mid-October. While driving home from a business trip in Georgia, approximately 70 miles west of Augusta, he was tired and sleepy. To stay awake, he turned up the radio and happened to tune into an Indiana clear-channel station broadcasting a special interview about a young couple who claimed to have been abducted by a UFO while in Colorado.

As a ham radio operator and a general shortwave monitor for over fourteen years, Fox was particularly interested. The couple's description of strange impulses on their car radio before the abduction resonated with him, as he had been picking up similar strange impulses on his VHF monitor at home for the past two weeks. These impulses had started weakly but grew stronger, occurring only at night. He attempted to locate the signal with a directional VHF antenna but was unsuccessful, noting that the signal seemed to be of equal intensity in all directions. He speculated it might be related to moonbounce experiments but questioned its purpose.

His thoughts were interrupted by unusual electrical interference that disrupted his car radio. This was peculiar because he was on a desolate country road, far from any high-tension lines or buildings, with only an occasional farmhouse visible.

Upon turning on his ham radio rig, all bands were dead, replaced by pulsating zings that he described as resembling the sound of an Air Force radar station. He initially dismissed the interference, thinking it might be a "clown with a linear amplifier on a wireless FM broadcaster." However, he then noticed a faint halo of light surrounding his car on the road, despite the absence of the moon. This halo maintained pace with his car, even when he sped up or slowed down.

A chill came over him as he realized this was not his imagination. He then heard a strange noise above him, likened to a jet airliner with idling engines, but with a three-tone musical note. Fear prevented him from stopping the car or looking out the window above. He described the experience as feeling "so alone" and wondered if he was dreaming.

He recalled the experiences of the couple from the radio interview and tried to console himself with the fact that they were not harmed. Suddenly, a hollow, metallic voice, described as sounding like a tape recording played backwards, came from his ham radio. He thought it might be alien visitors trying to communicate.

In desperation, he grabbed his microphone and asked, "Who are you? What do you want? Where do you come from?" The only reply was more of the same mechanical "garble."

Panicked, he saw the lights of a town ahead and accelerated towards it. About three miles from town, the spacecraft veered to his left, allowing him a "terrifying glimpse" of it. He described it as saucer-shaped, about fifty feet in diameter, with flaming red, blue, and green lights on its perimeter. The bottom half appeared to be spinning at a fantastic rate. He could not adequately describe the face he saw in a starboard porthole, only knowing it was "definitely alien."

As suddenly as it appeared, the craft made a 90-degree left turn and ascended rapidly towards the stars. The chill he felt eased, and he slowed his car. As the craft disappeared, the radio impulses faded, and his ham radio became active again on all bands.

He nervously keyed his microphone, identified his mobile station, and asked if any other local hams had seen anything unusual. Several responded, jokingly inviting him for coffee. Fox concluded that this was the only QSO he never logged, as he believed he had "worked DX from beyond the stars," but questioned if anyone would believe him.

Advertisements and Listings

The magazine also features several advertisements for electronic components and equipment:

• J. J. GLASS CO. TURNS TRADER: This company offers various items for cash or trade, including APX6-TRANSCEIVER, MEGGER-MODEL 5G200, COLLINS R390 RECEIVERS, COLLINS R-388 RECEIVER, COLLINS R-75-A2 RECEIVER, TEKTRONIK SCOPES (581, 541A, 945), TEKTRONIK MODEL 105 Square wave generator, URA-8 TELETYPE CONVERTER, SIGNAL GENERATOR SG2A/GRM4, URM-25 SIGNAL GENERATOR, and HP 200 D AUDIO OSCILLATOR. They also list 88 MH COILS. Terms include remittance in full or 25% deposit on COD orders, with a minimum order of $5.00.
• MOTOROLA 2M FM: Advertises modernized used Motorola FMTRU 41V mobile FM transceivers with 40 watts output, 12 volts d.c. input, transistorized power supply, silicon diodes, and options for 24 kHz or 6 kHz filter. Some units have transistor tone burst oscillators. They also list G.E. VOICE COMMANDERS receivers.
• GATEWAY ELECTRONICS: Offers a DIGITAL IC CLOCK, IP-137 AZIMUTH INDICATOR (convertible to SSTV MONITOR), KWM-2 DC POWER SUPPLY AND CABLE (12 volts), COIL CORD, and a 7200 volt C.T. PLATE TRANSFORMER. They invite inquiries for IC needs and encourage visits to their St. Louis store.
• JANEL LABORATORIES: Manufactures a complete line of VHF converters for frequencies from 50 through 432 MHz, suitable for DX, FM, ATV, MARS, etc. They offer a free catalog with pictures, schematics, specifications, and prices.
• WORLD QSL BUREAU: Provides QSL forwarding services anywhere in the USA for only 4 cents each, with "NO POSTAL INCREASE."
• FM Schematic Digest: Offers a collection of MOTOROLA SCHEMATICS covering alignment, crystal, and technical notes from 1947-1960, in a 136-page format.
• POLY PAKS: Features a "GIANT SALE ON NEW TTL TEXAS & NATIONAL ICS" with a wide variety of SN7400 series ICs, SN7473N, SN7474N, SN7475N, SN7476N, SN7490N, SN7441N, and SN7420N. They also list LIGHT EMITTING DIODES, G-E 3.5W AUDIO "IC DIP" AMP (PA-263), DUAL 709 OP-AMP, EPOXY SILICON RECTIFIERS, FETS, UJTS, VARACTORS, NIXIES, a "DIP" COUNTING SYSTEM kit, NIXIE TUBE Burroughs, 709 OP-AMP, 723 VOLTAGE REGULATOR, and 741 OP-AMP. They also offer 6-AMP FULL WAVE RECTIFIERS and a catalog on Fiber Optics, ICs, and Semis.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around amateur radio operations, particularly DXing (long-distance communication), and the exploration of unexplained phenomena, exemplified by the UFO encounter narrative. The magazine also serves as a marketplace for radio amateurs, with a significant portion dedicated to advertisements for electronic components, test equipment, and radio accessories. The editorial stance appears to be one that embraces the adventurous spirit of amateur radio and is open to discussing intriguing, even extraordinary, experiences like UFO sightings, as evidenced by the prominent placement of Ron Fox's story and the cover's speculative question about a "73 DXpedition."