1980 04 00 73 Magazine - Radio hams

Magazine Overview

This issue of 73 Magazine for Radio Amateurs, dated April 1980, features a cover price of $2.50 and a prominent headline related to radio amateurs. The magazine is primarily focused on technical articles and projects for amateur radio enthusiasts, with a notable feature article exploring the intersection of amateur radio operators and UFO investigations.

Hams on the Trail of UFOs

The lead article, "Hams on the Trail of UFOs - the Army's 'flying saucer' movie... did you see it?" by D. L. Dobbs K8NQN, delves into a mysterious military film from 1953. The article recounts the experience of a radar specialist, referred to as Mr. T., who, along with other specialists, was shown a 16mm movie at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. The film reportedly depicted a silver disc-shaped object embedded in sand, with a domed top and an open hatch. Subsequent scenes showed military personnel and, disturbingly, dead bodies in tight-fitting suits lying on tables within a tent. Mr. T. estimated the object to be 15 to 20 feet in diameter and the hatch about 2½ feet wide and 3 feet high. Despite initial curiosity, Mr. T. was later told by an intelligence officer that the movie was a "hoax." The article notes that the film was shown to other groups of radar operators at different bases, with one officer reporting that they could "see right into the windows" of the UFOs. The author questions the nature of this phenomenon, especially in light of NASA's alleged lack of interest due to "an absence of tangible evidence."

Len Stringfield, a veteran UFO researcher and author, is presented as a key figure in analyzing these events. His work, including "Retrievals of the Third Kind," is referenced, detailing alleged UFOs and occupants in military custody. The article highlights a specific case from 1953 where a young radar specialist witnessed this film. The author poses the question to the reader: "Was the movie reality or a hoax? And what purpose did it have?" The article suggests that some of these radar specialists might later become amateur radio operators (hams), potentially sharing their experiences.

Technical Articles and Projects

The magazine is packed with a wide array of technical content for radio amateurs, covering various aspects of the hobby:

• Sunspots... What Do They Mean? (p. 32) by G3WDI, discusses the implications of sunspots for radio propagation.
• More on Jammer Nabbing (p. 36) by WBOCMC, offers hints on equipment and strategy for dealing with radio jammers.
• Cheapy Scanner for the Memorizer (p. 38) by WA2ORU, questions the affordability of a scanner for its intended purpose.
• Back to School (p. 40) by W6HDM, explores learning about basic electricity.
• Moving Display ASCII Readout (p. 46) by W8VL, details a project that works with UARTs, keyboards, and micros.
• Lab-Quality Hi I Supply - part II (p. 54) by McClellan, continues a project on a high-quality power supply.
• A Better Car Regulator (p. 58) by Gelsinger, focuses on improving car regulator reliability.
• Test Gear Bargain from Heath (p. 62) by Staff, reviews a multi-purpose RCL bridge.
• Semiconductor Test Gadget (p. 64) by Truesdale, describes a gadget for use with an oscilloscope.
• Shoes and Socks for the IC-502 (p. 66) by N4QH, offers an amplifier/PS combo useful after vacation.
• Hi-Fi CW for the TS-820 (p. 70) by K3HBP, discusses an SSB filter for noise reduction.
• Going 2m All-Mode with Yaesu's FT-225RD (p. 72) by W6OJF, reviews the Yaesu FT-225RD transceiver.
• The PL-259 Connection (p. 73) by AC5P, addresses reducing adapters for the PL-259 connector.
• A Micro-Controlled Ham Station (p. 76) by W4UCH/2, details a ham station controlled by a TRS-80 computer.
• CW and the TRS-80 (p. 80) by WB7TUG, explains sending Morse code with a Level I interface on a TRS-80.
• A Solid-State RTTY Keyboard (p. 88) by K2BLA, presents a keyboard with auto-shift functionality.
• SWLing? Try This Souped-Up SSR-1 (p. 92) by G3WDI, offers modifications for a Drake receiver to improve SWLing.
• Off to MARS with the S1 (p. 96) by KSEDS, suggests a modification for the S1 that is also useful for oddball repeater splits.
• Field-Strength Fever (p. 98) by W6DOB, describes a simple meter for tuning antennas.
• CB to 10 (p. 100) by WA4UUV, continues a series on converting CB radios to the 10-meter band.
• Build an Audio VOM (p. 104) describes a project to build a Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter.
• Sound-Sensitive CW Sender (p. 106) by W2GZ, presents a sender for hands-free Morse code.
• A Tightwad's FSK Demodulator (p. 108) by WA5WPQ, details a low-cost FSK demodulator using a 567 PLL.
• Measure Frequency on your DVM (p. 115) by W3HB, describes a 3-chip circuit for measuring frequency up to 10 kHz with a DVM.

Other Sections and Columns

The issue also includes regular columns and sections such as:

• Never Say Die (p. 4)
• Looking West (p. 10)
• RTTY Loop (p. 12)
• Contests (p. 14)
• Leaky Lines (p. 16)
• Letters (p. 20)
• Awards (p. 22)
• DX (p. 24)
• Microcomputer Interfacing (p. 26)
• New Products (p. 28)
• Dealer Directory (p. 86)
• Social Events (p. 116)
• Ham Help (pp. 122, 123, 133)
• OSCAR Orbits (p. 123)
• Corrections (p. 132)
• Review (p. 162)
• FCC (p. 170)
• Propagation (p. 193)

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around practical amateur radio projects, technical problem-solving, and the exploration of unusual phenomena like UFOs, particularly as they might intersect with the amateur radio community. The editorial stance, as suggested by the inclusion of the UFO article and the questioning tone, appears to be open-minded and encourages readers to consider various possibilities and to engage critically with information, even when presented by official sources. The magazine actively promotes hands-on building and experimentation, evident in the numerous project descriptions and reviews of electronic gear.