Date: Sat, 13 Nov 93 21:26:36 -0600 From: adams@chuck.dallas.sgi.com (Chuck Adams) Message-Id: <9311140326.AA07638@chuck.dallas.sgi.com> To: qrp@Think.COM Subject: Hambrew es QRPp Review Gang, I received a few days ago in the mail two items: QRPp - Journal of the Northern California QRP Club and Hambrew - for Amateur Radio Designers and Builders. Let me give my impressions of both, and these are my impressions and mine alone. HAMBREW QRPp Date Autumn 1993 December 1993 Pages (including cover) 48 pages 60 pages Size 5.5"W x 8.5"H 5.5"W x 8.5"H Weight 2.7oz 2.3oz (weighed on electronic postal scale) Postage, if mailed 1st $0.75 $0.75 I don't have the 3rd class rates........ Paper 60lb slick 20lb nongloss Pictures 3 full page shots B&W No full page photos including F&B covers 22 B&W Photos (good qua.) 1 B&W Photo (scanned) total space of 10 pgs about 1/3 page total Cartoons 2/3 of a page total none Advertising 4.5 pages none HAMBREW ARTICLES (already table of contents posted to net) 1. Ramsey 30 Meter Transmitter Kit Review - Ramsey might go after them after this one. They changed the box (RS), added LED pwr, and other stuff to really canabalize (sp?) the thing. I personally don't think the results could be counted as a Ramsey kit. :-) I really didn't like the way they split the article after one page and continued toward the last of the publication. They did this in a bunch of places. A definite turnoff for me. 2. Zapp The DX With The Zapper - how to build a mobile antenna for about $30 to $50 using PVC es stuff. "The Zapper" a play on the "Bug Catcher". ;-) Cute. 3. The NorthWest QRP Club "30-30" CW Transmitter by KG7CR. A crystal controlled QRP rig. 2.5 pages including one page for schematic and parts list and .5 page for winding toroids. Not much meat at all, like maybe a PC board layout for those who are interested. And other articles, which I leave for the others in the group to give us their feedback on. I wasn't too thrilled myself, but that's just me, I'm sure. QRPp Articles (already a table of contents posted to the net, I think) 1. A bunch of articles by various people from this group, including yours truly. So, a bunch of it will be review for those who read this group. 2. Article by Wayne Burdick, N6KR, designer and father of the NorCal 40 Rig! This article alone is worth the $5 price for a whole years subscription to the newsxxxxx ooops, Journal of the Northern California QRP Club. :-) Four pages of the description of the circuits and two full pages for the schematics. So, those of you who did not get to buy the kit, here's your chance to get a look at it. No PC board layout. We'll let Wayne worry about that deal. It's his puppy, so to speak. 3. Three and a half pages on an Audio Filter by Jim Pepper, W6QIF, including graphs of frequency responses and circuit diagrams. 4. Three and a half pages with NorCal Club members, numbers, and addresses. I see some of you there in the list. Who's who of the internet. :-) And I didn't want to get too detailed in the reviews. Summary. Hambrew - $20 per year, four issues sent 3rd CLASS mail. QRPp - $5 per year, four issues sent 1st CLASS mail. I enjoyed the QRPp more and spent more time wading through it, since it has more print and more info and a lot fewer pictures and advertising. Hambrew, P.O. Box 260083, Lakewood, CO 80226-0083 $20/yr QRPp, Jim Cates, WA6GER, 3241 Eastwood Rd., Sacramento, CA 95821 $5/yr I don't think that Hambrew is aimed or going to attempt to do much for the QRP crowd. I got a call from George De Grazio, WF0K, Publisher, after I called on his 800-5-HAM-RIG number to see where my copy was. I received a copy first class mail a few days letter with note that this was a sample issue. What? I paid $20 for one year plus a bonus issue. Does he not have me down as a regular subscriber? Those of you who have not received your issue, call him. Since they are being sent 3RD Class mail and we know what the US Postal Service does to third class mail, I'd check up on it. Oh. There will be no back issues of QRPp. Issue will be mailed out Dec 1, 1993 first class mail. Be sure to get your money in post haste. DISCLAIMER: I am a member of the NorCal Club, but I don't get anything special from them, so this is a review on what I have seen. The above is my opinion(s) and I'd be glad to have anyone in this group that has seen the Hambrew issue and disagrees with the review, let US know. I make errors, but rarely. :-) dit dit SIG ------cut here---------- Chuck Adams, K5FO - CP60 adams@sgi.com QRP ARCI Awards Chairman ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 15 Apr 93 13:10:38 GMT Message-Id: <1914@jek> Resent-From: jkearman@arrl.org From: jkearman@arrl.org (Jim Kearman) To: qrp@Think.COM, adams@chuck.dallas.sgi.com Subject: Re: The Joy of QRP and QQ Dunno about QQ. I was fortunate to be able to glom onto a set of copies of The Milliwatt. Good winter-night reading! I have here a copy of Joy of QRP. I advertised continuously in QST for 6 months before I finally turned up 3 copies, 2 of which went to other staffers. I think "History" is much more interesting and inspirational. Someday I may write a review of "Joy" for the list. Meanwhile, here's a listing of the Table of Contents: 1 The Exciting World of QRP 2 Sharing the Joys of QRP 3 Planning for QRP Operation 4 Putting a QRP Signal on the Air--Commercial Equipment 5 Homebrewing the First QRP Rig 6 General Operating Techniques 7 Planning and Operating Specific Types of QRP Activity 8 RF Power Measurements The book came out in 1984, so it's a little dated. The current crop of QRP technical and operating books makes up for the contents, if not the enthusiasm of Adrian's "Joy." QRPers are like the newly converted: we want to absorb everything written on the subject! The people holding copies of "Joy" know this and charge accordingly. I paid from $15-25 for each of those three copies! "History" was still available a couple of years ago, from Ham Radio Bookstore. I bought a couple of copies from them at Dayton in 1991. Might be worth a call. It's worth reading. If you can't get a copy, I rehashed some of the early history in "Low Profile Amateur Radio," with due credit to Adrian for pointing the way. 'Pointing the way...' Maybe Adrian is the Buddha? Up here in New England the buds are coming out on the trees, and it often gets up to 50 F during the day. The big piles of snow in the League parking lot are almost melted. The solar panels are actually putting out long enough each day to keep the battery charged again. Time to start thinking about that portable rig and Field Day! I'm also getting inspired to start work on another regen receiver, for 80-40-30 meters, to use this summer. Some people like direct-conversion receivers, for all the right reasons, but I've had fun with my 40-m regen. I live 1/2 mile from ARRL and can use 7040 when W1AW is on 7047. It's flaky and touchy, but it's fun. 72, Jim, KR1S -- jkearman@arrl.org