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

GQRP Club

For more years than I care to remember (!) I have been a member of the GQRP Club. Every quarter they produce an excellent magazine called SPRAT. Many times before I have said that if all other magazines had to go, SPRAT would be the last. It is brilliant with lots of ideas each quarter.

QRP has been a passion of mine ever since I started: QRP DXCC was achieved years ago, I think entirely on 10m. These days I use QRP mainly out of laziness and just enjoy it. If I fail to get a QSO, there is always another day. If I work DX great, but I rarely seek it.

As a member you can buy the entire collection of SPRATs on DVD. This alone is worth joining for.

See http://www.gqrp.com/ .

G3RJV - special SPRAT

As you may recall, the Rev George Dobbs, one of the founders of the GQRP club died recently. To many of us he was an inspiration. Certainly I owe him a lot.

This morning I received a very special SPRAT, the magazine of the GQRP club. This special edition was filled with tributes to this great radio amateur. As the years roll on, I hope we can continue to work QRP in his honour.

See http://www.gqrp.com/

G3RJV Silent Key - Mr QRP

Sadly, as reported elsewhere, the Rev George Dobbs G3RJV who helped start the GQRP Club in 1974 has died. He had had dementia for some while, but this is sad news. I am sure he will be greatly missed in the amateur community. He certainly inspired me.

See https://www.amateurradio.com/ .
See also http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/rev-george-dobbs-g3rjv-silent-key.htm#.XIjpcPZ2u00

Tribal Knowledge - test gear

My thanks to Steve G1KQH for this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jmiL14CeQBWNY30eDuRdng1WlUpMDwVtPzy_MSFm0CQ/edit

ISWL (International Short Wave League)

Back in the 1960s, when the ISWL was thriving, I joined. Subsequently I left and rejoined some years ago. After a few years, I left again. When I left there were about 200 members only. I have no idea of membership numbers now, but I''d be surprised if it was more than 150 and probably far fewer?

Sadly, ISWL was no longer "for me". When I  left a few years ago not one email was received saying they were sorry I was going. I was surprised. Every month I had contributed a log, as well as several articles.

My feeling is this is now a very small group that is on the way out. Back in the 1950s and 1960s it was a very strong, international group. No longer do I feel this is true, sadly.

If you are considering joining, then my recommendation is join GQRP Club instead. I have never been disappointed.

See http://www.iswl.org.uk/ .