50 Years of G-QRP Book review

Australian QRP and home brew enthusiasts typically subscribe to two fine newsletters, the local Lo-Key from the VKQRP club and the British SPRAT from the G-QRP club. Both are A5 format newsletters packed full of interesting projects and ideas. They are of sufficient quality to stand many re-readings over the years but it’s sometimes hard to find an item that comes to mind in the pile.

Lo-Key has an index and SPRAT sells back issues on CD or USB key.

When I heard of the publication of a book to celebrate 50 years of SPRAT, I didn’t hesitate to order a copy.

The G-QRP club was founded in 1974 by Reverend George Dobbs G3RJV (SK) who commented that there might be a demand for a newsletter “if there’s enough interest”. It turns out that there is.

Ed Durrant, G8GLM, has put together a fascinating selection of articles drawn from SPRAT over time. They are clearly marked with the year of publication and show the progression of technology available to the hobbyist over the 50 years. Beginning with low valve count gear and ending with SDR technology.

The book’s selection of projects is broken down into Transmitters, Receivers, Transceivers, Antenna systems, Test equipment, and Miscellaneous topics.

Although widely available components have changed over the years there is lots of great ideas within the collection that are still relevant today. There are charming mentions of the help that writers have received from other home brewing QRP operators. 

Many of the articles mention familiar names from other writing including Doug Hendricks KI6DS, Pete N6QW, Charlie ZL2CTM, Eric ZL2BMI, Roger G3XBM, and Wes Hayward W7ZOI. There’s a good number of VKs mentioned. I haven’t spotted VK3YE, but he’s probably there somewhere.

A few of the articles are reproduced with low contrast – I guess they’ve been scanned. Early items are charmingly typeset on manual typewriters. For the 100th edition I’d like to see an index added.

The book is available via the RSGB shop for £17.99 and less for members.