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Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:35:30 +0100
From: "Andy Talbot" <andy.g4jnt@googlemail.com>
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
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Subject: Re: 500 LF: RADCOM
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Sri - we're being rather parochial.  Radcom is the magazine of the
RSGB, for members only.  It used to be half full of  technical
articles with the rest made up of operating, news and events.   Now it
seems to be all about events, people, HF contesting, amateur radio
celebrities and holiday photographs; what technical stuff it pretends
to include under that category consists of a beginners / homebrew
column, which to be fair is very good - if you're a beginner!  There
is a regular column which has the audacity to be called "Technical
Topics" but is more of a nostalgia trip for its writer and ought to be
called radio history.  Another column "In Practice" often carries the
only circuit diagrams to be found in some months' issues.  There are
some other regular columns which were originally meant to be operating
based, but some of the authors of those (I'm one) include mainly
technical matters to try to make up for the rest of the magazine.
What is lacking, and gives the magazine its boring image is the lack
in recent years of full blown constructional or technical articles.

As someone who took to writing technical articles for magazines about
a decade ago, and have written quite a few since, all I can say is
give it a go.   I found that the real difficulty to producing any
article is making the start.  If you are writing about something
you've done, and completed to your satisfaction, once the first bit is
started the  words will flow.   Diagrams and cross references
generally take up the most time (and cause most errors).   Diagrams
are always redrawn so you don't have to be too particular about
supplying neat ones.

In particular, they are interested in the shorter weekend project,
typically one to two pages (1000 - 2000 words approx) and the largest
likely to get into print these days runs to 4 pages - that appears to
be a dictate from high and does preclude some really good big things.

Anything submitted to Radcom these days has to be passed by the RSGB's
Technical Committee (TC), and they usually offer a few helpful
comments if any changes are needed.   The editor himself is an
experienced writer, and can, if needed, make a superb job of editing
the English / grammar etc.  My first experience of Giles was when the
article on the Bell Hill microwave beacons had to be cut from 6 to 4
pages.   (Considering we'd already had a very intensive editing
session to get th eoriginal size down as requested by TC, he managed
to reduce the size by a further 33% without losing anything of the
content).

Enough of that parochial rant, this reflector isn't really the place,
we should be trying to influence the Board / editors really.  But
there are a lot of subscribers to this reflector who do produce
interesting technical stuff, and the magazine does have a dearth of
stuff.   Give writing a try - it gets very addictive after a while.

Andy  G4JNT


On 25/10/2007, Scholz, Marco <marco.scholz@citi.com> wrote:
>
> Hello,
> very stupid question - is RadCom a (online) magazine? How can i get access?
>
> many thanks
> vy73
> Marco
> DD7PC
> ________________________________
> From: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
> [mailto:owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org] On Behalf Of
> G0MRF@aol.com
> Sent: 25 October 2007 16:03
> To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
> Subject: Re: 500 LF: RADCOM
>
>
>
> Thank you Andy.
>
> I had wondered why my enthusiasm to read RadCom had been somewhat reduced
> recently. Then after Andy's mail I looked through the current edition and
> found not a single constructional article.  Thank you for the wake up call.
> There was a time when, certainly when Mike G3XDV was editor, when technical
> articles were backed up and you had to wait months for something to appear.
> I wonder if that is still the case but that they are just not being
> published?
> Re 500kHz.  Sourcing parts for a project is a big problem for an individual
> and although this is a personal opinion. I think anyone wishing to give
> 500kHz a shove towards popularity needs to do 2 things.
> 1) Design a transmitter that represents a moderately 21st engineering but
> without including so many extras you need a mortgage or a several weeks and
> a binocular microscope to build it.
> 2) Having done that, be prepared to invest in some PCBs and key components
> for the design. Or be prepared to supply complete kits.
>
> This process has worked well for the microwave operator with G4DDK G3WDG and
> Andy all producing reliable designs giving access to bands where no
> comercial equipment exists.
> Of course, something working against this process at present is that 500kHz
> is only with us at the 100mW level and the NOV is limited to March 2008.
> Maybe, if that sitaution changes.....1W and permanent access would be
> nice....then the designs and kits will appear.
> Standalone CW TX ?   Transmit converter from HF?   Something software
> definable?
> Maybe a simple DDS that could generate CW or PSK or FSK modulation.
>
> Plenty of ideas on the wish list, but only if the band carries on beyond
> 03/08.
>
> So many things to do, so little time.
>
> 73
>
> David  G0MRF
>
> In a message dated 25/10/2007 09:44:49 GMT Standard Time,
> andy.g4jnt@googlemail.com writes:
> How about writing a few letters to the editor about the appalling
> tabloid route the Radcomic is taking?
>
> Giles (editor)  himself is a bit concerned about the route the comic
> is moving, but I get the feeling he is being pushed by the RSGB Mafia,
> sorry the Board.   The two job titles that used to run the magazine
> were "Editor" and "Technical Editor"    now   they are "Managing
> Editor" and  "Features Editor" .  That sez it all!
>
> Andy  G4JNT
>
>