Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: CQ Magazine

Category: Amateur Radio Periodicals

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
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
AD7QQ Rating: 2015-01-02
I like the content, Zinio is OK Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am a new prescriber to CQ and was pleasantly surprised by the content. The contest information is presented in an interesting personal format and the articles are well written and relevent to my enjoyment of the hobby. It makes a nice complement to QST. I would prefer a print edition but can tolerate the Zinio version, which is surprisingly readable even on my iphone.
W5NZ Rating: 2015-01-02
No improvement. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Continually late to need. Just received the Nov 14 issue in Jan 15. These guys are about as efficient as the US government. Too bad, because the content is relatively good. Won't be renewing any subscriptions with this poorly managed company.

----------------------
Earlier 1-star review posted by W5NZ on 2014-08-19

July edition finally arrived on 18 Aug -- 6 weeks later than it should. Content of the magazine is usually quite decent and offers a much needed alternative perspective from that provided by other journals. However, the management aspect of this periodical is sorely lacking. They've consolidated Popular Communications, CQ VHF magazine, and others into a single product line that should have minimized their publication woes. Haven't seen any subsequent improvement nor do they seem to care. Too bad to see a formerly great magazine go by the wayside. Will NOT be renewing my subscription.
W8JAS Rating: 2014-12-13
Outdated Information Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The information in the magazine is outdated and useless since the magazine arrives late every month and sometimes it never arrives. Reading about upcoming contests that have already passed is useless information. Special pricing in ads that has already expired is useless. It also seems like the magazine gets thinner and thinner each month so there is little content worth reading. Don't know what's going on, but won't re renewing.
K7FD Rating: 2014-11-28
Weak content Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Advertisements that are disguised as articles; articles that are nothing but book promotions peppered with name-dropping and self promotion. This magazine continues to spiral into oblivion..

----------------------
Earlier 0-star review posted by K7FD on 2014-01-10

I'm sorry, I'd love to say CQ Magazine was super duper. But in reality, it's really weak in content. Now we get news about 'Makers' instead of hams. I don't care about making robots, etc. The equipment reviews are so shallow that they are more like advertisements. The editor tries to satisfy everyone, making no one happy. That said, I renewed for another 12 months. Staring at just QST for a month is so boring it's unbelievable. Thank goodness I grabbed a life membership when it only cost $150. And of course, the ARRL is more than just a magazine, granted. But back to CQ, I'd like to see less of whatever they're doing now and more of what they used to do when I actually enjoyed reading it.
W3MAJ Rating: 2014-10-06
Receive Very Late Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I enjoy the content of CQ magazine with the exception of.... delivery date. I subscribe to a ton of magazines. Each is delivered the month prior to the issue month if not the month of the issue. I just RECEIVED THE AUGUST ISSUE IN OCTOBER. For a magazine that is as expensive as this is it is just not acceptable. For a good portion of the issue the content will not be outdated. With the exception of time sensitive activities. People/Clubs have put in ads and notices which will be of no value and have cob webs on them when received and read. To read where there is going to be a Hamfest on August 2nd and not be able to read about it until October 4th at the earliest is not a good thing. Otherwise the content seems ok.. I'm giving this periodical an average grade of "2" that being "4..Good" for articles and "0..Awful" for timeliness. CQ get on the stick and get this periodical out to your subscribers in a timely manner!!!
K8SOR Rating: 2014-08-21
Late or Never Time Owned: more than 12 months.
August 20, just got the July issue. They should call it Contest Quarterly-----Only get about 4 a year, and it's just contest stuff. Tried to cancel my subscription by e-mail, but no luck. This used to be a good mag, but NO MORE.
WA2EEW Rating: 2014-08-20
I'm sooo excited! NOT! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
August 20th and the July issue finally arrived!
I can hardly wait till my term expires so I don't have to renew. Also the late issues may have some interesting articles but not timely.
Gave it a 2 "needs help", but it should say BEYOND HELP!
KD8KEO Rating: 2014-08-19
Mail Subscription Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I finally received my July edition in the mail yesterday, August 18th. Late but, I enjoyed the articles. Especially Zero Bias on Miscommunication Emergency, and part II on Americas Off-limits Islands. I think this is a good magazine and do not want to see it go away. I would subscribe to the digital edition but, I continually have problems viewing it on my Android devices.
WB8NUT Rating: 2014-08-07
Articles and information old and outdated Time Owned: more than 12 months.
When my issue of CQ arrives, the news is old and outdated. Even the ads are outdated. The issue I received in February had Christmas ads that were no longer valid. When they send out combined issues, the magazine is no bigger than a regular monthly issue. Articles are often not very interesting. CQ magazine is not what it used to be.
W8LV Rating: 2014-06-19
Beter than ever! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I subscribe to CQ via Zinio. I enjoy the new "expanded" edition, that combines the Worldradio columns and puts it all into one package.

I know I am reviewing CQ here, but I also want to say I subscribe to The Spectrum Monitor now that Monitoring Times has ceased, and it is great as well! I don't really see ham publications going at it, cutthroat competition, like in other areas of media. Instead, it's much more of an "Everybody knows Everybody" business, with these publications complimenting each other. BOTH are great publications, and combined with QST you have a great monthly reading library, where one is entertained and learns from all of them.

I DO wish that ALL of the mags would dump the goofy, goofy formats that they use and just go with Adobe format. Which is the easiest format to read.