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Reviews For: CQ Magazine

Category: Amateur Radio Periodicals

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Review Summary For : CQ Magazine
Reviews: 163MSRP: 42.95/yr
Description:
The Radio Amateur's Journal
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
151633.2
KK2DOG Rating: 2023-02-18
Works for me! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The purpose of these reviews should be to rate the magazine for it's articles and content, not for a distribution issue they are/were having.

I've been a subscriber for many years and plan on renewing once again.

Perhaps I should give MFJ Enterprises a bad review since I just received their 2013 catalog on February 24, 2014.
VE3JSJ Rating: 2022-03-10
Delayed Digital versioni > Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I know there have been delays in the print editions of CQ, but up to now the digital editions have appeared on time. Except for March 2022, which has not yet appeared in ZINO

I enjoy reading CQ, but suspect they are short of material so are padding with historic articles.

Gordon VE3JSJ
KK8ZZ Rating: 2021-11-28
GREAT BUT ALWAYS MISSING ISSUES Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great alternative in addition to QST but delivery of the print edition is unreliable... I haven't received the past 3 issues (Oct-Nov-Dec) so I won't be resubscribing. Darned shame such a valuable magazine just can't seem to get it together.
WR3V Rating: 2021-11-27
Unacceptable print delivery. Contents tedious, too. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Way too many pages of contest announcements and contest results. Now lets talk about their lousy record of print magazine delivery. For years they either mail magazines one or two months late, or not at all. Too many excuses of "catching up". Obviously robbing Peter to pay Paul. And taking unsuspecting folks money under false pretenses. Forwarned is forarmed. If you must have it, digital is the only way to go. They have gotten the last of my money.
W4NNF Rating: 2021-11-20
CQ is still much the same as it ever has been. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Addendum: 4 years later...
************************************

Nothing much has changed with the quality of CQ magazine four years down the road. It's much like it was 35 years ago and they still produce some good issues. BUT...

That is FAR outweighed by the fact they are now missing issues. Having spent some time in the magazine biz, I will tell you it's pretty unknown for a reasonably prominent print magazine--even one that's, like CQ, no longer a newsstand publication--to miss a single issue. Missing multiple issues? The grim reaper is approaching.

Now, it's possible they could really, REALLY tighten their belts and stay afloat as a digital-only magazine. I am doubtful.

Don't get me wrong; I've always liked CQ fine, but BEWARE. If you send them 60 dollars for a print subscription, you will not likely get 60 dollars worth of print issues. Frankly, I'm dubious about reupping my digital subscription. I would not be at all surprised if CQ folded its tents and rode off into the desert some evening.

********************************************

CQ Magazine...CQ Magazine. What's the bottom line? Well, first of all, let's leave aside their problems with getting print issues to subscribers on time (or sometimes at all). They do seem to be doing slightly better lately, but I have a digital subscription and wouldn't dream of doing it any other way because of those continuing problems. But that bottom line? If you liked CQ in the 80s, you will probably like it now, because little has changed.

Everything that was CQ in the 80s is pretty much CQ still. Starting with the cover. Today the covers often look like they were shot with a cellphone. Back in the day, they appeared to have been shot with an Instamatic. Inside that cover? A magazine heavy on articles about contesting and operating and light on serious equipment reviews and technical articles.

Quality of the articles you'll read? This is a professionally done magazine written and edited by folks who know what they are doing in that regard. And there is some good stuff in here. The "kits" column is often very good indeed. If you're nostalgic, there are a few scraps here and there that could have been in the old Popular Communications magazine. The contest and operating pieces are good.

Verdict? I would not dream of this being my only radio magazine. However, it is a good complement to QST and QCX. Lighter, more operating/personal story oriented. They can still do some excellent issues like the recent anniversary issue.

That said? I liked World Radio better and am still sorry CQ bought that magazine just to strangle it. However, all THAT said, I still like CQ OK, can't have enough radio magazines, and will continue my (digital) subscription.
KI5HNX Rating: 2021-11-20
Happy to Subscribe & Help Keep Them in Business Time Owned: more than 12 months.
There has been criticism of this magazine lately. Complaints about late or missing issues, etc.... While the individuals may have valid complaints regarding their subscription, the problem isn't specific to CQ.

I've missed many different magazine issues over the past year. Receiving a simple letter from two states away has taken a month and that is as recently as September 2021.

I talked with the folks at CQ earlier this year regarding my print and digital subscription. They were very nice and friendly, just like you'd expect someone to be 50 or 60 years ago. They were happy to talk with me and didn't act like I was taking them away from more important things. What's more important than the customer who took the time to call?

I mentioned that I liked having the digital edition in case a print edition is lost in the mail. They asked if I had missed any recent editions and then promptly mailed a replacement copy of one that was missing. That's the kind of service I expect, but rarely receive these days.

As others have said, if CQ goes away, what are we left with? QST will be the only large scale print magazine left. I'd rather have more than one source and viewpoint for ham radio news, information, contest and hamfest calendars, etc.... I believe it provides a nice balance in that CQ provides things that are missing from QST.

I will definitely continue my subscription to CQ. In fact, I just received the offer to renew now and receive extra months on my subscription term, so I believe I will go take care of that right now.

Give CQ a try if you have not read it before. They provide an older digital edition online free of charge for prospective subscribers. If you have read it in the past, give it and the folks at CQ another chance. You may be pleasantly surprised.
WX7Q Rating: 2021-11-19
RE-UPPED. Bought the digital edition. Good deal. Winter is here. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
RE-UPPED. Pretty good deal. Winter is here in the Pacific Northwest. I understand the issues with print media these days, so I purchased the digital edition. The 3 prior reviews make the salient points. N2CYY...Still Very Much an Excellent Read...W3KHQ...We need this magazine...K0RO...I'm sticking with them. WX7Q... I want to try and keep what we have before its gone.
K2JHU Rating: 2021-11-19
Not worth it anymore. I'll stick with QST. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
When K2EEK was there it was great. Now not so much now. Late deliveries or ust not worth the money.missing deliveries. Just not worth the money.
N2CYY Rating: 2021-11-18
Still Very Much an Excellent Read Time Owned: more than 12 months.
5 Years later ... and I still love CQ. There are a number of issues at play here that have been brought up by various reviewers. Delivery issues of the print edition, should not condemn the publication, itself. As a retiree, the savings realized by the digital only subscription are appreciated. I have never had any problem with the digital edition being available on time at the beginning of each month. As I said 5 years ago ... I can't imagine the world of ham radio without CQ.
In many aspects, the hobby is shrinking .. it is certainly undergoing some pretty big changes, as we seek to understand our role in society that is undergoing accelerated technological change. CQ magazine addresses important counterpoints to the ARRL, etc. Its good to see things at times from a different perspective. So as I said, I still love CQ, may it live long ......... (PS I am in no way connected, financially or otherwise, to CQ Mag., etc.).

Orig 2016
I've been a CQ & QST subscriber for way too many years ... Hi ... Hi. CQ remains an excellent read which I thoroughly enjoy. Is it QST ...is a Chevy Malibu a Ford Taurus?
Our hobby/service is broad enough to not easily be covered by any one publication (or point of view). CQ, QST, ARRL Contest Journal, the AMSAT Journal .... different strokes for different folks.
Our hobby would be immeasurably poorer without CQ. CQ remains an excellent magazine serving the ham radio community with distinction! I love the folks at Newington BUT I think CQ plays an important role as counterbalance, at times, to our national organization.
As for delivery, I am retired now and get CQ in digital format, and it is always on time!!
W3KHQ Rating: 2021-11-18
We need this magazine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Lets just hope we will continue to have a CQ magazine. I've been a reader since the 1950's. Without it we'd have just one voice in amateur radio. They're having problems as so many in business today. What would we have if we lost the CQWW events?

73's Harold W3KHQ