GQRP SPRAT

Many times before I have mentioned how much I enjoy the magazine SPRAT. 

As I have said before,  if I had to give up every other amateur radio magazine, SPRAT would be the one I'd keep. 

Back issues are available on a CF stick that represents incredible value.

GQRP membership costs are very modest.

QRP operation

How we enjoy amateur radio varies from person to person. 

We are all different, so how we enjoy the hobby varies greatly. This is healthy. It would be a sad world if we all liked the same things!

I quite enjoy QRP (low power) and like finding out how far really low power goes. 

As an example, today one station was giving my 200mW WSPR beacon a report of -3dB S/N suggesting the even microwatts might have been enough. 

I have been a member of the GQRP club for very many years. Their quarterly SPRAT magazine (A5 colour) is usually packed with ideas for simple circuits. As I have said many times, if all other radio magazines had to go, SPRAT would be the one I would keep. 

Back issues of SPRAT are available on a flash drive.

The RSGB has a page about QRP. See https://rsgb.org/main/technical/qrp-low-power-operating/

Nice surprise

Yesterday the post contained a nice surprise. 

It was a small package that I was not expecting and I had no idea what was inside. 

On opening it, I saw this which I was not expecting at all. They sent me a certificate and I thought that was it.

 Thank you GQRP Club so much.

Sixbox transceiver

Some years ago I wrote an article in SPRAT and a follow up article last year. To my surprise it was awarded a prize!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/sixbox

How embarrassing!

The latest GQRP magazine SPRAT has arrived and I see there are 3 articles of mine! I was hoping they would spread them out. They must be desperate for articles. 

Usually SPRAT is excellent as a quarterly A5 colour magazine full of ideas. 

It is entirely done by volunteers without payment. As I have said many times before, if every magazine had to stop this would be the last to go. Perhaps not this one though!  

See http://gqrp.com/sprat.htm .

SPRAT

Many times I have said that if I ever had to give up all my amateur radio magazines, SPRAT would be the very last to go. It is an A5 colour magazine that comes out every quarter and is packed with articles, many of which are constructional. It is produced by volunteers and people submit articles for nothing. It remains my favourite magazine.

See https://www.gqrp.com/ . 

GQRP SPRAT

Many times, I have said that if I had to give up every radio magazine then SPRAT would be the last one to go. This is still my view. 

SPRAT is published every quarter as a colour A5 magazine. It is packed full mainly of simple construction projects and annual subs are very low. It is entirely run by volunteers with back issues of SPRAT available on a flash stick at a very reasonable sum. Well worth getting.

See https://www.gqrp.com/sprat.htm .

New QRP book

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the G-QRP Club, they have brought out a new book available from the RSGB bookshop entitled “50 Years of G-QRP”. As the title suggests, it is a collection of the best articles in the club quarterly magazine. SPRAT.

I am biased, but I still think SPRAT is the best amateur magazine. It comes out quarterly and is filled with simple projects. It’s a full colour A5 magazine. I think it is entirely run by volunteers and nobody is paid.

As I have said many times before, it would be the very last magazine to go if I was pushed.

See https://www.gqrp.com/.

Rally this Sunday

 This has been notifed to me. Usual caveats about travelling a long way apply.

Sunday September 1st - Telford Hamfest and GQRP Club Convention, Telford, TF10 8NB. Contact hamfest@tdars.org.uk .

GQRP SPRAT

My latest SPRAT magazine has just come. The winter edition usually comes about now.

I have said this very many times, but if all other magazines had to close, I hope SPRAT would survive as it is filled with good QRP projects and news. 

It is put together by volunteers and comes out every quarter as an A5 colour magazine. It is excellent value. Back issues are available on a flash drive. It is worth it for this alone!

It is my ethos entirely.

See https://www.gqrp.com/ .

Rallies and Conventions this weekend

The following should take place this weekend. As always, I strongly recommend checking the information is correct.

1. Saturday September 2nd - GQRP Club plus Telford and District ARS Convention. Telford,  TF10 8NB. Contact 01952 255416 or 07824 737716.
2. Sunday September 3rd - Annual Telford Hamfest and continuing GQRP convention. Contact and postcode as above.

80m FETer transceiver

One of the challenges in amateur radio is how simple can you make a rig that really communicates? Some years ago I designed and built this unit for 80m CW that appeared in GQRP SPRAT. It is one of the simplest transceivers you can make. It really works!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-feter-transceiver .

SPRAT back issues

All the back issues of SPRAT are available on a flash drive. It is cheaper for GQRP club members. It is very low cost and well worth it. There are years of projects on it. Look for "SPRAT on a stick". 

Many times I have said that if all magazines had to go, SPRAT would be my last. This is incredible value. 

See  https://www.gqrp.com .

G-QRP Convention

This is being held this weekend at Telford. This is along with the Telford Hamfest.  For those unable to attend, the talks are being streamed by Zoom. See www.gqrp.com/convention.htm .  Contact Martyn on 01952 255416.

GQRP club sales

Just seen this message from Steve G1KQH:

"Graham G3MFJ is currently in hospital so club sales is closed until further notice. Please send no orders and make no enquiries about components until you hear from us.

If you have already placed an order then we will appreciate your patience as it can't obviously  be dealt with.

Kind Regards 

Tony G4WIF" 

I have no information further to this. I bought a SPRAT on a stick only quite recently. Quite a few people use GQRP club sales. Let us hope this is nothing too serious.

SPRAT 187

The GQRP Club produces an excellent quarterly magazine called SPRAT that is always packed with ideas and projects. It is, without fail, excellent. 

They also offer SPRAT 1-184 on a DVD or Flash stick for £5 plus postage - excellent. 

If ALL other magazines had to stop, I'd keep SPRAT. 

See www.gqrp.com. 

GQRP Club

I have been a member for a very long time! It is run by volunteers and produces an excellent colour A5 magazine called "SPRAT" every quarter. This is filled with ideas and projects.

Joining GQRP club allows you to buy parts from member's sales, which includes nearly all the past SPRATs on DVD or flash stick. It is worth joining just for this! 

Many times in the past I have said that, if I was suddenly poor, SPRAT would be the last magazine to go. I still feel this way.

See http://www.gqrp.com/ .

GQRP Technical Pages

Many times I have said how great the GQRP Club magazine SPRAT is. 

Members can now buy the entire collection of back issues on a DVD or memory stick. It is probably worth joining for this alone, although SPRAT always has some excellent articles.  I think non-members can also buy these, but they are more expensive. My view is simple: join!  You are unlikely to regret it.

On the internet are several useful pages of technical resources which builders may find helpful.

See http://www.gqrp.com/tech.htm

QRP convention online

Because of the Covid-19 restrictions the GQRP convention is online this weekend. GQRP members can access the talks for £4. Normally it is held in Telford. Maybe next year?

See http://www.gqrp.com/GQRP_Conference_Agenda.pdf

SPRAT magazine

SPRAT is the quarterly magazine of the GQRP club. It is a small A5 sized magazine in full colour.

Of all the amateur magazines, it is the very best. It is entirely produced by volunteers. Many times in the past I have said it would be the last one to go if I fell on hard times.

Past editions are available on a DVD that is incredible value, especially if you are a GQRP club member. It is almost worth joining just for the DVD.

Every edition is packed with good ideas for simple projects and news. I love it.

See http://www.gqrp.com/sprat.htm